Slow Cooker Bean Soup (with Ham, Spinach, and Thyme)
This Slow Cooker Bean Soup has loads of flavor from ham, spinach, and thyme, and it can be made with cooked dried beans or canned beans. And this kicked-up version of ham and bean soup is nutritious and extra delicious!
PIN the Slow Cooker Bean Soup to make it later.
Adding some tasty and nutritious greens is one of my favorite tricks for increasing the nutritional value of most any kind of soup? Dark leafy greens are the the most nutritious foods per calorie of all the world’s healthiest foods, and the flavor of leafy greens goes with so many other foods. And I loved the addition of spinach in this Slow Cooker Bean Soup!
This bean soup recipe started with leftover ham from Thanksgiving and dried beans in the pantry. Once I had the idea in mind, all I needed was a package of baby spinach and by the end of the day I had this delicious bean soup that was kicked up in flavor with ham, spinach, and thyme.
I took some of the soup to my brother Mark and his wife Lisa, since they’re the ones who brought the ham for Thanksgiving. A few days later Mark texted me to say the healthy slow cooker bean soup was a winner. I hope you’ll try this tasty soup next time you have some leftover ham!
What ingredients do you need for this soup?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- cooked white beans or canned beans
- canned chicken broth (affiliate link) or use homemade chicken stock if you have some
- onion
- Dried Thyme (affiliate link) or ground thyme
- cooked ham, coarsely chopped
- Goya Ham Flavor Concentrate (affiliate link), optional but good
- baby spinach
- fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste (remember ham is salty; this doesn’t need much salt)
What greens can you use for the Slow Cooker Bean Soup?
If you’re not big on spinach, I think Kale or Swiss Chard would also be delicious in this ham and bean soup.
Want to use dried beans for the Slow Cooker Bean Soup?
If you want to save some money and have plenty of time, here’s How to Cook Dried Beans in a Slow Cooker. There’s also a good post on my Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker site about How to Cook Dried Beans in the Slow Cooker or Instant Pot. You can make extra beans and freeze some for the next time you want to make soup.
What size Slow Cooker did I use?
I made this soup in my 6 quart Ninja Cooker, which isn’t that readily available any more, but any type of Crock-Pot Large Oval Slow Cooker (affiliate link) that’s at least six quarts will be fine. If you only have a smaller slow cooker, the recipe could certainly be cut in half.
Can this Slow Cooker Bean Soup be frozen?
This soup freezes well, and you’ll be glad you have some to pull out of the freezer when you get home late on a cold night.
How to Make Slow Cooker Bean Soup (with Ham, Spinach, and Thyme):
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Cooking your own dried beans is really the most flavorful option for this type of soup. (I cooked two pounds of beans, then froze half and used half in the soup. Here’s How to Cook Dried Beans in a Slow Cooker if you haven’t done it. If cooking dried beans from scratch doesn’t work for you, no judgement from me. Just use 4 cans of white beans!
- Put 6 cups of cooked beans (4 cans) into a large slow cooker with 6 cups chicken broth (or use partly ham stock if you have some).
- I had ham juice from the bottom of the slow cooker we cooked the ham in, but if I’m using chicken broth for soups with ham, I like to add a little Goya Ham Flavor Concentrate (affiliate link) to flavor the soup.
- Cook the beans, onions, dried thyme, and stock about 2 hours on high.
- Then add the chopped ham and cook about 2 hours more.
- When the soup has cooked several hours and all ingredients are starting to taste good together, chop 5 oz. baby spinach (or other greens) and add to the soup.
- Cook 30-45 minutes more. (I like the greens fairly well done.)
- Season to taste with plenty of fresh-ground black pepper and a little salt if needed. Serve hot and enjoy!
More Favorite Bean Soups with Greens
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Slow Cooker Bean Soup (with Ham, Spinach, and Thyme)
This Slow Cooker Bean Soup is kicked up in flavor with ham, spinach, and thyme, and it can be made with beans cooked in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, or use canned beans if you prefer.
Ingredients
- 6 cups cooked white beans (or use 4 cans white beans)
- 6 cups chicken broth (see notes)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tsp. dried thyme or ground thyme
- 3 cups cooked ham, coarsely chopped
- 1-2 packets Goya Ham Flavor Concentrate (optional)
- 5 oz. package baby spinach
- fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste (remember ham is salty; this doesn’t need much salt)
Instructions
- Here's How to Cook Dried Beans in the Slow Cooker or Instant Pot if you're cooking dried white beans.
- Just use four 15 oz. cans white beans if you prefer to use canned beans. (No need to rinse the beans for this recipe.)
- Put cooked beans, chicken broth (or partly ham stock, chopped onion, and dried thyme (or ground thyme) into the slow cooker and cook on HIGH about 2 hours.
- After 2 hours coarsely chop the ham and add to the slow cooker, with Goya Ham Flavor Concentrate (affiliate link) if desired.
- Cook on HIGH about 2 hours more.
- Chop the spinach and add to the soup.
- Cook on high 30-45 minutes more.
- Season soup to taste with fresh-ground black pepper and salt. (Remember ham is salty so you won’t need much salt.)
- Serve hot.
Notes
For the beans, use about 1 lb. dried beans and follow the options above to cook them, or use 4 cans beans, 15 oz. size can.
Canned chicken broth is fine for this recipe, but I'd use partly ham stock if you have some. I highly recommend adding a little Goya Ham Flavor Concentrate (affiliate link) if you don't have ham stock.
Recipe created by Kalyn when she had beans in the pantry and leftover ham from Thanksgiving.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 326Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 57mgSodium 1606mgCarbohydrates 38gFiber 9gSugar 3gProtein 34g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
If you’re limiting carbs in your diet, I would make this soup with more ham and greens and fewer beans, but this Slow Cooker Bean Soup soup as written is too high in carbs for strict low-carb diets. Dried beans are considered a “good carb” for the original South Beach Diet, and they’re permitted for all phases of South Beach.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Soup Recipes for more tasty soups like this one! Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This Slow Cooker Bean Soup recipe was posted in 2015. It was last updated with more information in 2024.
4 Comments on “Slow Cooker Bean Soup (with Ham, Spinach, and Thyme)”
I love dried beans! so much more affordable too! Great recipe
Thanks, glad you like it!
I notice this recipe says it will serve 8. What is the size of the serving?
Sorry, I can't really answer that. I don't measure out a serving when I make the recipe, just estimate how many servings it would be based on what I consider an average serving.