Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup is a delicious and hearty soup that is not only made for pennies but also cooks up in record time thanks to the pressure cooker. Made with dried beans, a rich stock, and a leftover ham bone, this soup is filled with incredible flavor and comes together effortlessly.
Whenever you have a leftover ham bone from Baked Ham, this comforting soup is a MUST make!
After every holiday, my mom or my grandpa would make a big batch of Ham and Bean soup from our leftover ham bone. It would simmer on the stove for hours, tempting our taste buds all day long.
I use the same recipe for Ham and Bean Soup passed down through generations, but I have sped up the process of making this soup by using the pressure cooker. It is just as tasty as the original, but SO much faster.
Tender white beans and chunks of ham swimming in a rich, smoky broth--this Instant Pot Ham and Bean soup truly is comfort food.
It also happens to be a super frugal meal. Dried beans and a leftover ham bone are the base of this soup. And those humble ingredients turn into something quite spectacular when married together with a few herbs and vegetables.
Ingredients for Ham and Bean Soup
- Dried White Northern Beans--This recipe is for unsoaked dried beans, but there are modifications included for making this soup with soaked beans and canned beans.
- Water and Chicken Stock--Because ham bones can be very salty, you only want to use both stock and water or simply water in this soup recipe.
- Ham Bone/Ham Hock--a leftover ham bone is perfect for this soup, but you can purchase a smoked ham hock to make Ham and Bean soup as well. Tip: If using a bone from a Honey Baked Ham, be sure to remove any pieces of ham with glaze-or your soup will end up on the sweeter side.
- Celery, Onions, Carrots--This trinity of veggies is a classic base to most soup recipes. Feel free to omit one if you have picky eaters. And both red and yellow onions work!
- Fresh Herbs--Bay leaves, fresh thyme, and garlic add the perfect herbal tones to the soup. adds an herbal tone to this soup.
- Seasoned Salt--a perfect blend of seasonings that adds just the right amount of flavor and salt to this soup recipe.
How to Make Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup
- Turn Instant Pot to saute and let heat up.
- Add in oil and carrots, onions, and celery and saute until onions begin to soften.
- Add in garlic and saute for 30 seconds and then turn the Instant Pot off.
- Add in stock and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the inner pot to avoid a burn warning.
- Add the remaining ingredients, except for the salt, into the pressure cooker.
- Place lid on the pressure cooker and be sure vent knob is pointed to sealed.
- Set cook time by pressing pressure cook or manual (be sure pressure is set to HIGH) and use the +/- keys to adjust the time to 45 minutes.
- It will take 10-15 minutes for pressure to be reached.
- Once cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally--resist the urge to do a quick release, as the instant pot is filled with starchy liquid that may spew all over your kitchen and you risk burning yourself. It usually takes 10-20 minutes for pressure to fully release.
- Remove and discard bay leaf and thyme sprigs.
- Remove ham bone/ham hock and if desired, pick off meat from ham bone and stir into soup.
- Add seasoned salt to taste and enjoy!
Storing Ham and Bean Soup
This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Freeze Ham and Bean Soup, be sure to let the soup cool completely. Once cooled, place in 4-8 cup portions and place in freezer-safe bags or freezer-safe containers. Defrost slowly in the fridge overnight and heat to serve. Add a bit more stock or water to thin out the soup if it seems thick.
Instant Pot Soup Recipes
- Instant Pot Potato Soup
- Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup
- Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Tomato Soup
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
If you enjoyed this Ham and Bean Soup made in the Instant Pot, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Instant Pot Ham and Bean Soup
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon canola or olive oil
- ½ cup diced onions
- 2 stalks celery thinly, sliced
- ½ cup diced carrots
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups chicken stock or additional water
- 2 cups dried white northern beans
- 4 cups water
- 1 ham bone or smoked ham hock
- 6 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 sprig of fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute and let heat up for a minute or two.
- Add in oil, onions, celery, and carrots and saute for 3-4 minutes, or until onions have become soft and translucent. Add in garlic and saute for another 30 seconds. Turn instant pot OFF.
- Add in the chicken stock into the inner pot and scrape up any browned bits from bottom of inner pot.
- Rinse the dried beans and look through beans to be sure there are no stray rocks.
- Add water, ham bone, beans, carrots, onions, celery, tomato sauce, bay leaf, thyme, and pepper to Instant Pot.
- Place lid on pressure cooker and turn vent knob to sealed. Set cook time to 45 minutes on HIGH pressure. (Hit manual/pressure cook button and then use +/- keys to adjust time to 45 minutes).
- After cook time has elapsed, let pressure release naturally. This can take 15-20 minutes.
- Open lid and remove ham bone, bay leaf, and thyme sprigs.
- Remove ham from bone and stir into soup along with the seasoned salt. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- In place of fresh thyme sprigs, use 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves.
- If using a bone from a Honey Baked Ham, be sure to remove any pieces of ham with glaze-or your soup will end up on the sweeter side.
- If you use soaked dried beans, decrease the water to 3 cups and cook time to 35 minutes.
- If you use canned beans, decrease the water to 2 cups and adjust cook time to 20 minutes. Decrease the seasoned salt to ¼ teaspoon.
- This soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To Freeze Ham and Bean Soup: Cool completely. Once cooled, place in 4-8 cup portions and place in freezer-safe bags or freezer-safe containers. Defrost slowly in the fridge overnight and heat to serve. Add a bit more stock or water to thin out the soup if it seems thick.
Jocelyne
Do you soak the beans first
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jocelyne! For this recipe, the beans are not soaked first.
Teri
This is a great recipe! I was raised in the south and had ham and bean soup lots of times but never really liked it. Decided to try this one and give it another try. I changed out a few things because as one reviewer said, "It needed to be used from my freezer or pantry." So instead of two cups of chicken stock (homemade, also from the Instant Pot), I used four. Instead of four cups of water I used only two. I know that the larger amount of water was intended to knock down the saltiness of the ham but I don't use salt when I make chicken broth so it came out fine. I used a whole can of tomato sauce as I didn't have a six ounce can on hand and for all the supplies of beans I have on hand, I didn't have any great northern so I used two cups of a 13 bean soup mix instead. Also, in addition to the ham hock, I had several frozen ham steaks and cut up one of them from the freezer and added it to make it meatier. Everyone loved it! I gave some to relatives and they wanted your recipe too. I also froze some. Nowadays it is just me and my husband and I always cook way too much! Again. Thank you! This will be my new go to autumn soup.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Teri! Thank you for sharing your modifications. I am a huge fan of using what you have on hand, and I love hearing how you made this work--and that you enjoyed the Ham and Bean Soup Recipe 🙂
Suzanne
I made the Bean soup today in my instant pot. Turned out great but how can I thicken it a bit?
Thanks.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Suzanne! So glad you enjoyed this soup. You can thicken it up by blending 1 cup of the beans with broth and then mix back into the soup. Alternatively, you can turn the IP to saute and let the soup simmer with the lid off to evaporate some of the liquid.
Nichole
Love the simplicity of this soup, it was so good. I used what I had in my pantry- dried black eyed peas- cause its what I had. Cubed ham (it needed to be used) I also tossed in a bag of the Great Value Seasoning Blend chopped frozen veggies- onions, celery, green peppers and parsley flakes- I asked myself- could this be easier? No, it was so easy. Loved that I could used dried beans in this in my instapot, and they were delicious, in just 45 mins- what! Love my instapot. Thanks for such a great easy recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
You are so very welcome! I love hearing you made this using what you had on hand!
Elaine Cipriano
45 min is not long enough for the Northern Beans to cook! I had to add 15 min. This is the second time making your recipe….and i forgot it takes longer.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Elaine! I am sorry you have had issues with the timing. I myself, have not had this issue with any of the models I have tested this recipe on. That said, it is important to recognize sometimes Instant Pots, like ovens, vary in how they cook. I would make a note you need an extra 10 minutes and try that from now on. Also be sure to use cold water, cold stock and the full amount--all of that is crucial in the timing. I hope that helps 🙂
Brandon L. Roeglin
Easy to follow directions. My only modification was navy beans instead of the Great Northern. It turned out awesome. So flavorful. Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing Brandon! Great to hear you enjoyed!
Robert
Hi! I only have pinto beans or black beans in my pantry right now. Can I sub? Are they bigger than great northern? Will I need more cook time??? Thanks
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Robert, I would use pinto beans, not black beans if you want to sub them out. The cooking time will be the same as well.
Robert
Thanks!