The Easiest Ham And Bean Soup, A Step By Step Recipe
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In this step-by-step with pictures, learn how to make Easy Ham and Bean Soup at home, a quick and easy recipe from scratch.
Creamy Ham and Bean Soup is a warm, comforting recipe and a great way to use up leftover ham. Made using canned pinto beans, this soup can be ready in under 30 minutes.
Creamy Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
After many many years of making and loving Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Soup, my bestie Maryann and I decided venture out and make a new version. That’s how we created Ham and Canned Pinto Bean Soup.
Let’s take a step back. If you have yet to try our Tuscan Soup (seen below), then go make it right now. It will quickly earn a spot on your weekly menu. Right now, I’m making it weekly because my four year old always wants “that white soup.”
Easy Ham and Bean Soup
Now, on to this ham and bean soup with canned beans. The ingredients are simple.
Leftover Ham: What a great way to use up leftover holiday ham or leftover ham steak. Dice it into small pieces to make it more palatable.
Onions and Garlic: There’s big flavor in both of these humble ingredients. Fresh garlic is best but jarred, minced garlic works great too.
Flour: Flour acts as the thickening agent.
Evaporated Milk: Stock up on canned evaporated milk to help create the creamy base of this soup and many more.
Chicken Broth: I always keep extra cans of broth in my pantry just for this reason. Leftover ham broth would be great too!
Canned Pintos: Beans are a great source of fiber, protein and a host of nutrients.
Salt and Black Pepper: The easiest seasoning around. If your soup isn’t quite right, it probably just needs seasoned with salt and pepper.
Shortcut Ham and Bean Soup
Quick ham and bean soup with canned beans is full of shortcuts which is great for my busy household. We could call it by many different names:
- Leftover ham and bean soup: I always seem to have leftover ham after the holidays.
- Canned pinto beans and ham soup: Using canned beans is a huge time saver.
- Creamy ham and beans with evaporated milk: Using canned milk makes it easy and makes for a creamy texture.
Can I Substitute Sweetened Condensed Milk for Evaporated Milk?
NO. That would be disastrous. Sweetened condensed milk has sugar and is typically used in desserts and coffee. If you don’t have evaporated milk, go ahead and use regular milk.
Can I Substitute Other Beans for Pintos?
Yes, of course. I recommend Great Northern Beans or Cannellini, but feel free to use your favorite. Do not drain the juice off the canned beans.
How Do You Thicken Ham and Bean Soup?
This is where the flour comes in. We add ours right to the ham, onion and garlic and give it a stir. You can also add the flour to some of the broth in a small bowl and whisk it together. Then add it to the ham and cook a bit before adding the rest of the liquids. It will also thicken as you let it simmer.
What Do You Serve with Ham and Bean Soup
While we often serve crackers with any type of soup, if we have time, we love to serve it with cornbread. We suggest Maryann’s Sweet Cornbread recipe!
How to Make Ham and Canned Pinto Bean Soup
Step By Step Instructions
- In a medium to large pot, sauté chopped onions, garlic and diced ham in butter (or olive oil) until onions are translucent.
- Add flour, and stir for 30 seconds to cook out raw flour flavor.
- Slowly add in evaporated milk and chicken broth while stirring.
- Once it comes to a boil, add in undrained pinto beans.
- Heat over medium low until the beans are warmed through.
- Taste and generously season with salt and pepper.
Storage Instructions
Let leftovers cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Warm leftovers on the stove or in the microwave.
For the full instructions and ingredient list for easy ham and bean soup with evaporated milk, scroll to the bottom of this post.
Recipe FAQs
- This is a ham and bean soup with canned beans. Do not drain the beans before adding to the soup recipe.
- Substitute in Great Northern Beans or Cannellini beans if desired.
- Add diced carrots and celery with the onions, if desired.
- In a bind, regular milk can be used instead of evaporated milk.
- Optional seasoning include fresh thyme or dry thyme, bay leaf, parsley, etc.
- Season this ham and canned pinto bean soup generously with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
- This makes about two quarts of soup which is about 8 cups. We say this serves 6 people because 1 cup just isn’t a big enough serving.
- Check out our Amazon Store featuring our favorite pantry essential and kitchen gadgets.
Recipes Using Leftover Ham
Mom’s Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole
Leftover Ham and Noodle Casserole
Soup Recipes with Canned Beans
Using canned beans is SUCH a timesaver especially in soups. Don’t worry, we have you covered when it comes to soups using canned beans!
- Southwestern Three Bean Soup
- Crockpot Minestrone
- Collard Greens and Beans Soup
- Stovetop Italian Bean Soup
- Crockpot Taco Soup
Creamy Ham and Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 – 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups ham, diced small
- 1/2 cup flour
- 12 ounces canned evaporated milk
- 14.5 ounces chicken broth
- 30 ounces canned pinto beans, do not drain
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter.
- Add onions, garlic and diced ham, and saute for a few minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add flour, and stir for 30 seconds.
- Slowly add in evaporated milk and chicken brown, stirring constantly.
- Bring mixture to a boil while stirring.
- Add undrained pintos to soup, and heat until warmed through.
- Taste, and add salt and pepper generously.
Video
Notes
- This is a ham and bean soup with canned beans. Do not drain the beans before adding to the soup recipe.
- Substitute in Great Northern Beans or Cannellini beans if desired.
- In a bind, regular milk can be used instead of evaporated milk.
- Season this ham and canned pinto bean soup generously with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
- Looking for another leftover ham recipe? Try Mom’s Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole.
- Please note that carb counts, calorie counts and general nutritional information varies greatly depending on the products you use. The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
Nutrition
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