Frugal Foodie Mama: Slow Cooker Soup Beans & Ham

Not only is this Slow Cooker Soup Beans & Ham recipe super flavorful & simple to make, but it also happens to be budget friendly as well...

Let me introduce you all to the only way I can get my husband to eat beans- this Slow Cooker Soup Beans & Ham recipe I am sharing with you all today. As long as I serve it alongside a slice of fresh baked cornbread, he dives right in.

But beans in chili? Nope. He picks them out. A three bean salad at a backyard BBQ? The man won't go near it. Refried beans at our favorite Mexican restaurant? It's never going to happen. But somehow homemade soup beans & cornbread is a whole other ball game for him.

Maybe it is the nostalgia factor. I think most of us (at least most of here in West Virginia) grew up eating some variation of soup beans. In fact, many local diners and family owned restaurants around here often have a daily special of soup beans & cornbread on their menu board.

And yes, I do think that the cornbread is essential, folks. I am not saying that you can't be perfectly content with a bowl of these soup beans and ham on their own, but the sweet cornbread just pairs so well with the creamy beans and the saltiness of the ham.

It is definitely worth the extra 30 minutes or so to bake up a little homemade cornbread. This Cast Iron Skillet Corn Bread recipe happens to be one of my personal favorites... :)

We have had a few gray & rainy days here with temperatures in the 40's this past week (it is the month of May, right?), so these Slow Cooker Soup Beans & Ham was perfect comfort food on those dreary days. But this would also be a great recipe to keep in your summer recipe arsenal.

I break out my slow cooker probably twice as much in the summer months than I do in the winter and fall because it keeps me from having to turn on the stove & oven. And we all know that the kitchen stays a little cooler when the stove & the oven can stay off during the heat of summer.

I usually pick up a ham bone & ham steaks from a pork farmer at my local farmers' market. You can also usually find them in the meat department at your local grocery store, but if you do not see any packaged ham bones out in the case then be sure to ask at the butcher counter.

They are usually relatively inexpensive to purchase. And that happens to be another thing that I love about this recipe- it is extremely budget-friendly. :)

Yield: Serves 6-8

Author: Carrie Robinson

Slow Cooker Soup Beans & Ham

Not only is this Slow Cooker Soup Beans & Ham recipe super flavorful & simple to make, but it also happens to be budget friendly as well.

prep time: 1 hour & 10 min cook time: 8 hours total time: 9 hours & 10 min

ingredients:

1 lb. of dry Great Northern beans
32 oz. carton (4 cups) of chicken broth
2 cups of water
1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tbsp chili powder
1 meaty ham bone
2 large ham steaks, diced
Salt & pepper, to taste

instructions:

How to cook Slow Cooker Soup Beans & Ham

Quick soak the beans by rinsing them in a colander and then transferring them to a large saucepan. Cover the beans with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, allow the beans to cook for 1 minute. Cover the saucepan with a lid, remove from heat, and allow the beans to sit and soak for 1 hour. Drain the beans back into the colander, rinse, and then pour into your slow cooker. Alternatively, you can soak the beans overnight and then rinse.
Add the chicken broth, water, chopped onion, garlic, chili powder, & chopped ham into the slow cooker. Give a quick stir. Drop in the ham bone. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. During the last 30 minutes of slow cooking, remove the ham bone and allow it to cool slightly. Remove any meat from the bone and add that to the slow cooker. Discard the ham bone.
Season with salt & pepper to taste before serving.
Ladle into bowls and serve with a piece of freshly baked cornbread.
Enjoy!

Created using The Recipes Generator

Did you grow up eating soup beans?

What's your vote- cornbread or no cornbread?

Looking for even more comforting soup recipes? Then be sure to check out the recipes from my fellow food blogger friends below...