Ham Bone Soup Recipe (2024)

By Melissa Clark

Ham Bone Soup Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 45 minutes
Rating
5(1,922)
Notes
Read community notes

This hearty soup requires a good afternoon simmer, filling your house with the aromas of all things good and warming. The marrow imbues the broth with a silkiness and richness, and the kale is thrown in for color and health. You might want hot sauce, or not. Either way, a bowl of this is the kind of thing that cures what ails you.

Featured in: A Bare-Bones Soup Recipe

Learn: How to Cook Ham

Learn: How to Cook Beans

Learn: How to Make Soup

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have

    10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers.

    Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Print Options

    Include recipe photo

Advertisem*nt

Ingredients

Yield:6 to 8 servings

  • 4strips bacon, thick cut, sliced into ½-inch pieces
  • 3large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2celery stalks, trimmed and sliced
  • 1large onion, peeled and diced
  • 3garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1ham bone 1¼ pounds, cut in half or in thirds ask your butcher to do this
  • 1bay leaf
  • teaspoons salt, plus additional to taste
  • ½head green cabbage, shredded about 8 cups
  • 3cups cooked beans rinsed and drained if canned, such as cannellini, navy or pinto
  • 1small bunch kale, ribs removed and leaves chopped into bite-size pieces 6 cups
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Hot sauce or apple cider vinegar, to taste

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

461 calories; 12 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 57 grams carbohydrates; 15 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 34 grams protein; 658 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Ham Bone Soup Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate.

  2. Step

    2

    Add the carrots, celery and onion to the pot. Stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Drop in the ham bone and bay leaf. Cover with 8 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in the cabbage and simmer 30 minutes. Add the beans and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in the kale and simmer until soft, but vibrantly green, about 15 minutes. Season with the remaining ½ teaspoon salt (or more to taste). Add lots of pepper and a dash of hot sauce or vinegar. Serve with crumbled bacon on top.

Ratings

5

out of 5

1,922

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Carole

I adapted this to use a left over cooked Ham Bone and pieces of ham.
Follow directions for first 5 ingredients. Then add ham bone ( no need to cut in half). Simmer 2 hours -- add water as needed to cover.
Then remove bone, add 4 cups chicken broth, and diced left over ham and then follow the rest of the recipe.

Lisa

I made the ham broth the day before I made the soup, in my slow cooker - whole hambone, 1 chopped onion, three or four stalks of celery and 4 chopped carrots with 2 liters of water and simmered on high for 5 hours. The bone split naturally into about five separate pieces, infusing the broth with gelatin.. I refrigerated the whole thing overnight which brought the fat to the top where it was easy to skim. I threw away the solids and then went about using it as the broth base for the soup.I

Melisa

I just use my ham bone whole instead of worrying about cutting it up. It seems to work just as well in my experience.

Suzanne M

Made this using dried beans, simmering them in water (I used a few cups over 8) and the ham bone for about an hour. Then proceeded with the recipe, but skipped the separate 20 minute simmer of the sauteed vegetables. Very nice recipe.

Mary

I make this often with whatever meat bits I have on hand and I leave out the bacon and cabbage. I throw in the onion peel to get a lovely golden brown color (remove before serving) to the liquid and use chopped dry hot peppers to taste. It is also delicious with chorizo or Portuguese sausage. Wonderful versatile and healthy!

SupaD

This soup was SO good, the best bean soup I've ever eaten. But I was sad, because I only cook ham maybe once or twice a year, so I can't have it more often. Well I just learned that Honeybaked Ham sells ham bones, so I'll be making this more often.

Clive

Please. Reduce. Reduce. Simmer. Add bacon hot sauce and vinegar. If you don't. You will miss out. Sooo good. Yummy.

SupaD

This. I used heirloom yellow eyed beans I bought on a trip home to Charleston. Oh. My. God. This was SO good. I worried that kale *and* cabbage would be overkill, but it was perfect. The tender cabbage gave an extra oomph of umami, while sturdy kale gave it wonderful contrast, both in color & texture. This recipe is going into permanent rotation in my kitchen, for ham bones after New Years & Easter. Oh yes. I almost panicked that I hadn't saved this on my Mac. Google saved the day.

Lauren

This is so simple, economical and delicious....but it’s gained an unflatulent, I mean unflattering, nickname of Fart Soup at our house. Gas aside, it’s wonderful made as is and then top with a spoonful of NYT’s chimichurri recipe and extra hot sauce. I also threw in some rosemary in one leftover rendition.

Deborah

I made a low salt version, simmered some chicken bones, and used the resulting stock instead of water, which added a boost to the flavor, so the tablespoon of salt was not missed all. The bacon and ham introduced enough. Brilliant recipe.

Ben Super

Next time I will reduce the cabbage. I would like it to be more soupy next time.

brushjl

I made this for a church group that is big on soups and this was a hit. I used ham hocks and of course cooked my own beans. I also used mustard greens instead of kale and it was great. all these soups are always improved by a night in the wonderbag, look it up.

Anne L.

I made this with turkey leftovers instead of the ham bone and it was delicious! Some apple cider vinegar at the end is important; it will make the soup sparkle in your mouth!

Lauren

Used all chicken stock (boxed, low sodium but no need to add extra salt), a huge, meaty ham bone and cooked gigondas I had in the freezer....really good.

Elisa

Great soup, only change I made was to simmer bone for 2 hours instead of 20 minutes.

Mary

I made this soup to cheer me up on Day 7 of a head cold. I only had red cabbage and it turned the soup a threatening brown/purple. But a glug of apple cider vinegar turned the soup to a charming pink. Tasty and pretty.

Julie Park

Used left over Christmas ham with bone. I did not cut the bone, so added extra chicken stock to cover due to its larger size. All else cooked same as recipe. An excellent soup!

allisonfoxhole

The vinegar and hot sauce are key to elevating the flavors. Otherwise this was bland to me.

Trent

This soup was outstanding, perfect way to use the bone from our Christmas ham. Took the advice of others and let the bone simmer with the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic for a couple of hours before adding the kale and cabbage. Used a whole cabbage and added it at the same time as the kale. Large chunks of ham came off the bone, took them out and chopped them up before putting back in. Served with sourdough bread. Splash of vinegar brightened it up. Simple and delicious, definitely a keeper!

2rottiesmom

This soup is fantastic. Tasting while cooking thinking what's everyone raving about. Oh my goodness when you ad the vinegar and hot sauce "WOW"! Keeper so deliciously different.

mdc

Followed Lisa’s comments/recommendations and it came out fantastic. I used leftover ham bone and pieces from a spiral ham - I did make sure to cut off the sweet end parts. Highly recommend!

Jeanette

Gorgeous! In step one I friend up pieces of leftover ham instead of bacon. I charred half a lemon alongside the aromatics and left it in the pot to simmer with the ham bone for about 30 min. I simmered the bone for much longer- probably about 2 hours- and the resulting broth was fabulous. This is a perfect use for a holiday ham!

Salbug

I chopped up bits of leftover ham instead of bacon, and used the hambone to make broth. I added pinto beans the potlikker that I had made a few days earlier. This is perfect rainy day soup!

Champ

I used two cans white beans, one can kidney, and half a cup dried red lentils to make up the difference. The lentils I put it before the simmer, I added the beans with the pureed vegetables. I left out the kale but will add next time.

sheila

Cooked ham bone 6hrs

Krista

This was spectacular - so good even my picky 4 year old loved it!!! She happily ate this 3 nights in a row, and asked if we could make it again soon! I managed to get a pork butt for 29 cents/lb, so I used the bone with a fair amount of meat left on it - and added some extra ham cut into cubes with the bacon. I did start the ham bone with bay leaf in the morning on the stove with some extra water, which gave a great depth of flavor. Added the celery leaves so they didn't go to waste. 10/10!

meinmunich

At a market I buy a ham bone from a deli stand just to make this. Kale was not to be found so I omitted but I suppose I could have used chard. My husband goes nuts over this soup.

Chase W.

Didn’t have bacon or kale, but had enough meat from the ham bone and enough cabbage to make it work. This was a solid recipe and I will definitely make it again!

Suz

Unbelievably good. Made exactly as it says but had a lot of ham so I added it all with some extra water and in turn added extra spices and 3 whole cans of cannelloni beans. I have made a ham and potato soup for years that my family loves and it’s unanimous this is my new go-to.

DC

Simmered the bone first separately for 2hrs so I coins make the soup the next day. Richer broth. Added fresh thyme with bay leaf. Used collard greens instead of kale. Apple cider vinegar at the end is a must!! Otherwise feels like it’s lacking something. Delicious!!

Private notes are only visible to you.

Ham Bone Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep a ham bone to make soup? ›

Instead, freeze the ham bone so you can use it later to add flavor to a soup or make homemade ham broth or stock. A ham bone will keep in the freezer for at least a few months. That buys you some time to make full use of it and you have a few days to properly prepare it for long-term storage.

How do you thicken ham bone soup? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

Can a ham bone be used twice for soup? ›

Ham Bone Soup Recipes

To use your ham bone in this recipe, submerge it in the soup during the last 40 minutes of cooking. Depending how much meat comes off the bone, you may be able to reuse it if you refrigerate it between uses. Salt and pepper the recipe to taste.

Is ham still good after 7 days? ›

Whole cured hams last in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, fresh ham only lasts a few days in the refrigerator, about three or four once you've cooked it.

How long do you leave bone in soup? ›

Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for at least 10-12 hours, or until reduced by 1/3 or 1/2, leaving you with 6-8 cups of bone broth. The more it reduces, the more intense the flavor becomes and the more collagen is extracted. We find 12 hours to be the perfect cook time.

Can you boil ham bone too long? ›

In general, it's recommended to simmer the ham bone in water for at least 2-3 hours, but up to 4-6 hours for a larger bone. This will allow the flavors from the bone to infuse into the water, creating a flavorful broth.

Can you boil ham too long? ›

But you do need to cook it at a gentle simmer, as if you boil a ham too briskly then it can also become dry. Overcooking the ham can also cause it to become dry. It can help to take the ham out of the fridge an hour before you start to cook it, so that it loses its chill and cooks more evenly.

How long to cook fully cooked ham bone in? ›

Remove packaging material. Use pan at least 1 inch deep. Wrap ham in foil. For best results, heat in a 300°F oven to an internal temperature of 120°F (approximately 13-15 minutes per pound).

Is ham bone broth good for you? ›

Simmering animal bones in water releases collagen and other proteins into the broth that may have health benefits, although more research is needed to validate these claims. Now, a new study has shown that ham bones contain peptides that could have cardioprotective effects.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

What does cornstarch do to soup? ›

Cornstarch, or corn flour, can be used to thicken soup through its high starch content. Cornstarch is a great thickener for soup because only a little bit is needed to significantly thicken a soup, and it will not affect the flavor profile of the soup.

Can you buy just a ham bone for soup? ›

They're not a super-fancy item only found at gourmet grocery stores—I buy mine at the local Safeway. If you can't find them, just ask. Both fresh and smoked ham bones need to be cooked thoroughly before eating and do best when simmered slowly for hours in a pot of soup.

Can I freeze a ham bone for soup later? ›

Yes! Ham bone can easily be frozen and used later for soup. It's nice to be able to throw it in the freezer after hosting family and friends for a nice dinner or holiday. You can freeze the ham bone for 1-2 months.

Does Honey Baked ham sell ham bones for soup? ›

Ham or ham bone is sold separately. Place ham bone in a large stock pot. Add 12 cups cold water and bring to a boil. Add HoneyBaked Mixed Bean Soup Mix with contents of seasoning packet.

How long is a hambone good in the refrigerator? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked. If you need more time to use up those leftovers, ham will last up to two months in the freezer. The USDA also recommends wrapping up leftovers well.

How long can you keep a bone in ham in the refrigerator before cooking? ›

Both plastic-wrapped and vacuum-packaged hams must be refrigerated. A plastic-wrapped ham will keep about one week. A vacuum-packaged ham should be consumed by the “use by” date or within 1 week after the “sell by” date. Both plastic-wrapped and vacuum-packaged hams can be frozen.

How do you save bones for soup? ›

Anytime you have cooked chicken bones, whether it's a whole chicken carcass or just a bone-in chicken breast or thigh, save those bones in your freezer! Freeze them right along with vegetable scraps like onion, carrot and celery, and when you've accumulated a good amount, make stock!

How long does ham bone soup last in the fridge? ›

Storing Ham Bone Soup

Any leftover soup can be cooled a bit and then stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This is also a great soup recipe to freeze.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Duane Harber

Last Updated:

Views: 6388

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duane Harber

Birthday: 1999-10-17

Address: Apt. 404 9899 Magnolia Roads, Port Royceville, ID 78186

Phone: +186911129794335

Job: Human Hospitality Planner

Hobby: Listening to music, Orienteering, Knapping, Dance, Mountain biking, Fishing, Pottery

Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.