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A ham hock refers to the part of a pig bridging the leg and the foot.
It’s commonly smoked (like ham or bacon) and then used in soups and stews to add flavor by boiling for a long time, comparable to preparing the bone broth.
When the soup is done, remove the ham hock and discard it, reserving any flesh that remains- on the bone.
How to make Ham and Beans?
Check below how to make some delicious Ham and Beans in a slow cooker.
Ingredients
Instructions:
Notes:
If you don’t have a ham bone or a ham hock?
That’s fine; in a pinch, bacon will suffice.
It won’t have the same flavour, but it’ll suffice.
What if there’s no Italian seasoning?
Use a teaspoon of seasoning made up of dried oregano, dried thyme, garlic powder, black pepper, and dried basil.
There is no such thing as a bad mix!
Nutrition Information:
FAQs
What’s the best place to get ham hock or ham bone?
To get the most bang for your buck, preserve the bone from your next ham roast and use it in this ham and bean soup to create a second recipe out of your ham buy.
If you aren’t planning on making these ham and beans right away, you may freeze the ham bone along with a cup of leftover ham in a freezer bag or freezer container.
For ham and beans, what kind of beans should I use?
I recommend Great Northern or navy beans for this dish.
They’re delicately seasoned, allowing the ham flavour to stand out.
Plus, even after boiling all day in the slow cooker, they maintain their shape and have a tender bite to them rather than turning to mush.
You’ll need to start with dried beans for this recipe.
Not only are they less expensive than canned, but after all that time in the Crock-Pot, they have a nicer texture.
And, because the slow cooker takes care of the extended cooking time, preparing this ham and beans using dried beans is practically as quick as preparing it with canned beans.
Is it necessary to soak the beans?
It’s not necessary to soak the beans overnight, although it’s a good idea.
Soaking the beans helps to break down the complex carbohydrates in the beans, making digestion easier.
Soaking your beans can assist prevent intestinal distress after eating a bean dish.
Why am I substituting water for the stock?
The ham hock adds a lot of flavour to these ham and beans.
You’re essentially making a stock while you cook the soup because it’s simmering alongside your beans in the slow cooker.
This recipe’s best feature is its simplicity!
How can I make these ham and beans thicker?
You probably won’t need to because this recipe makes a hearty, pretty thick stew as is.
If you want it extremely thick, mix about a cup of the beans with an immersion blender at the end of the cooking period and add it back in.
Which slow cooker is ideal for this ham and bean soup?
Because this recipe serves a large number of people (6 huge servings), I recommend using a larger Crock-Pot.
My preferred slow cookers are the 6-quart Crock-Pot Multicooker and the 6-quart Hamilton Beach slow cooker.
Is it possible to do this on the stovetop?
These can certainly be made on the stovetop.
However, because the cooking time on the stovetop is so long, you might be better off using your slow cooker.
Cooking ham and beans in the slow cooker is perfect since they benefit from low and slow cooking, which is exactly what Crock-Pots were designed for.
You can chuck everything in your slow cooker and go about your day instead of monitoring your beans on the stovetop for hours.
Is it possible to freeze the ham and beans in the slow cooker?
You certainly can!
Allow cooling completely before storing in freezer bags or containers.
These leftovers are perfect for sick days or poor weather days- you know, those times when you simply want to eat something warm and comforting.
To defrost, thaw overnight in the fridge or for about a half-hour at room temperature (just long enough to dislodge from the container), then drop into a stockpot or saucepan and warmly covered over low heat on the stove.
With ham and bean soup, what can you serve?
A huge, hearty bowl of soup begs for some crusty bread!
Cornbread, braided seed bread, Irish soda bread, and biscuits are all excellent options.
A good salad is a terrific side dish if you’re searching for something light.
Is it okay if I use a ham hock or a ham shank?
Yes!
Instead of diced ham, use 1-2 ham hocks or shanks.
What can I do to make this a freezer meal?
In a Ziplock bag, combine raw vegetables, chopped ham, dried thyme, and pepper.
Leave the beans and chicken broth in the pantry until you’re ready to use them.
The vegetables, ham, and seasonings can be frozen for up to a month.
Add the contents of the freezer bag, beans, and 8 cups of chicken stock to the slow cooker when ready to cook.
Add the ham packet last.
Cook as directed in the recipe, but add the ham flavour packet at the end of the cooking time.
In a slow cooker, can beans be overcooked?
When the beans are on high, it’s easy to overcook them.
Cooking times vary depending on the type of bean.
I recommend cooking beans on low for 6-8 hours and then monitoring them every 30-60 minutes until they are tender.
Pour them into a colander once they’re done cooking and set them aside to cool.
Final Words
The easiest way to use up leftover ham is to make this ham and beans recipe!
Creamy white beans are combined with chopped ham, vegetables, and seasonings to create a simple, yet wonderfully fulfilling dish that is guaranteed to please.
Slow Cooker Ham and Beans
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pound navy beans
- 1 diced onion
- 3 chopped celery stalks
- 1 sliced carrot
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 leaf bay
- 1 smoked ham hock
- 4 glasses water
- 1 tsp. spices
- 1 cup ham
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Soak the beans in water overnight (the water should come up to a few inches above the beans).
- Before cooking, drain the beans in a colander.
- In the slow cooker, combine the beans, onions, celery, carrots, garlic, bay leaf, and ham hock.
- Fill the slow cooker halfway with water, just enough to cover the beans.
- Cover and cook on high for 5-12 hours or low for 7-12 hours, or until beans are cooked and falling apart.
- Remove any meat from the ham hock or bone from the slow cooker.
- Chop the meat and combine it with the Italian seasoning, the remaining chopped ham, salt, and pepper in the slow cooker.
- Cook for another 30 minutes covered.
Video
Nutrition
