Grandma’s Leftover Ham Soup

Comforting Grandma’s Leftover Ham Soup combines leftover ham with fresh vegetables and Navy beans to create the nostalgic taste of home, just like Grandma used to make.

This recipe is perfect for any leftover ham. We like to use it with our leftover Ham Steaks in the Crock Pot.

Leftover Ham Soup Recipe

This hearty soup on your stove top is a delicious way to use leftover ham.

The combination of tender ham pieces, creamy beans, and vegetables creates a satisfying soup that is perfect for cold winter days.

As the soup cooks, the ham imparts its savory flavors, infusing the potatoes and dumplings with a rich and smoky taste.

Whether served as a main course or a hearty starter, Grandma’s Leftover Ham Soup with beans is a timeless and beloved recipe that brings generations together around the dining table.

Looking for other ways to enjoy leftover ham? Try these Ham and Swiss Sliders or this Ham and Potato Casserole.

Ingredients

• Navy beans
• Bay leaves
• Carrots
• Celery
• Potatoes
• Leftover ham
• Water
• Dumplings: Eggs, Flour, Water, Salt, Pepper

Recipe Tips

• Slices of leftover ham still work well and can be cut into bite-size pieces.
• Time crunch? Substitute in canned beans. See below.
• Potatoes may be peeled or diced with peel.

How to make soup with leftover ham

The day before you want to make Grandma’s Leftover Ham Soup, start thinking about the beans.

Pour uncooked navy beans into a large pot full of cold water. Let set overnight on the kitchen counter.

Remove all floating beans and any shells, and drain water.

Add ham bone, juices, and ham pieces using the same large pot.

Next, add diced carrots, celery, bay leaves, and water.

Keep at least three inches of liquid above the beans at all times.

Cover and cook on low-medium heat for three hours, stirring occasionally.

Add in diced potatoes and cook for an additional two hours.

By this time the ham should be falling off the bones. Remove the ham bone from the pot.

Stir mixture to make sure all ham pieces are bite size. If present, trim any excess fat or gristle from ham.

Use a fork to check the potatoes’ doneness.

If they are tender and easily mashed, add the dumplings to the soup.

To make the dumplings, mix the eggs, flour, salt, and water in a medium-sized bowl.

If the mixture appears to be too dry, slowly add in a tiny bit of water.

Dumpling consistency should be slightly sticky, but not too sticky.

Add in a pinch of flour to create the proper texture.

Use a spoon to scoop up the dumpling mixture into nickel-size pieces and carefully drop it into the hot soup.

Add water in small increments to the soup as the dumplings are cooking, as they will soak up the juices.

Stir and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the dumplings firm.

Keep the dumplings small. They will expand in size as they cook.

The bigger the dumplings, the longer they will take to cook.

Serve up the warm soup with a side of crackers and enjoy the comforting embrace of Grandma’s home-cooked meals.

Can this be made with canned beans?

You can use canned beans, which will reduce the cooking time.

It takes about 3 15-ounce cans of beans per 1-pound dried beans. Drain the liquid well to reduce the sodium.

You can even rinse the beans to make sure you get as much sodium off as possible. 

Can you freeze leftover ham and bean soup?

Yes, cool the ham and bean soup completely and then ladle it into a freezer-safe container or bag.

If using a freezer bag, record the date the food was cooked using a permanent marker.

It is recommended to freeze soups for up to three months.

Lay the freezer bags flat on a cookie sheet and place them in the freezer.

Once completely frozen, you may store the bags vertically in the freezer as a space-saving method.

How long can I eat soup with leftover ham?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham can be stored for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked.

If you need more time to use up leftovers, ham will last 2 to 3 additional months in the freezer when stored correctly.

Can you reheat ham soup?

If you have leftover ham soup stored in the refrigerator, you can reheat and serve it again.

The soup will remain food-safe for 3 to 5 days after it has been prepared.

A stovetop and microwave are both practical methods to reheat this hearty soup.

How do you reuse leftover soup?

With the help of a microwave, you can easily reuse leftover soup.

Place a portion of soup into a microwave-safe bowl and cover with a paper towel.

Depending on the microwave, we suggest heating for one minute, stirring, and continuing heating in 30-second intervals until warm.

How do you fix bland ham soup?

When using a leftover ham bone in this soup recipe the flavors from the ham should provide plenty of seasoning.

If you want to add more layers of flavor, saute the carrots and celery in olive oil before adding them to the soup.

Diced onions are another way to enhance the flavor.

Other Ham Recipes

Sweet Southern Slow Cooker Ham is juicy and tender, with a touch of sweetness. It’s the perfect recipe to free up your oven for holiday special occasions and is convenient enough to serve during the week.

Brown Sugar Ham with Glaze ham is the perfect centerpiece for an everyday dinner or the Thanksgiving dinner table.

This simple Ham Stir Fry with Vegetables recipe is loaded with all your favorite Asian flavors and perfect served over rice or noodles.

Other Hearty Recipes

This Easy Sausage Gumbo recipe is a comforting dish that is simple to make and packed with savory sausage and traditional vegetables in a rich roux-based broth.