Great Northern Bean Soup

This Great Northern Bean Soup is the perfect hearty and filling meal for a chilly winter night. The best part is, this bean soup recipe can be effortlessly made in a Crock Pot or slow cooker!

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Why We Love Great Northern Bean Soup

1. Perfect for cold, winter nights
   There’s nothing quite like a warm and hearty bowl of soup on a cold winter day. This Great Northern Bean Soup is one of our favorite comfort food. It’s simple to make, and the rich and flavorful broth is sure to satisfy!
2. Quick & easy recipe
   This soup is perfect for busy weeknights and you can prepare it in the slow cooker so it practically cooks itself.
3. Budget-friendly dinner
   This Northern beans crock pot soup is a classic recipe, and a frugal, economical way to put a delicious meal on the table.

Love beans recipes? For similar recipes, try our Instant Pot White Beans, Slow Cooker Calico Beans, and Instant Pot Great Northern Beans. Or, if you’re looking for a refreshing salad for the warmer months, try this Tuscan Bean Salad. It’s full of flavor and goes with so many potluck dishes!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Dried Great Northern beans
  We use Northern beans in crock pot soup because they’re large and hearty. You can substitute them with any other variety of dried white beans, such as navy or cannellini.
  
• Chicken broth
  The key to the incredible flavor is using a rich, flavorful stock or broth. If you don’t have any chicken broth on hand, you can use chicken stock or vegetable broth instead.
  
• Smoked ham hock
  We like to add a ham bone, diced ham, or a ham hock to the soup for additional flavor. You can certainly leave it out if you’re vegetarian, or prefer not to use pork products.
  
• Veggies
  We include carrots, celery, and onion. Because you will be dicing them, either regular or baby carrots will work.

Northern Beans In Crock Pot – Tips For Success

1. Soak the beans overnight, or for at least 4 hours.
   This makes them cook faster, and also reduces the amount of the enzyme in the bean that causes some people to become gassy. The USDA recommends soaking dry beans before cooking.
2. Follow timing instructions for slow cooking.
   Set your slow cooker to High heat and let everything cook for 4-6 hours. Then, switch to Low heat and continue cooking for 2 more hours. The longer it cooks, the more the flavors will develop.
3. For a creamier soup, mash beans in the pot.
   After soup is done cooking, remove bay leaves and use a potato masher or stick blender to mash about half of the beans in the pot.
   

Great Northern Beans Recipe Variations

• Use leftover holiday ham in addition to the ham hock, or in place of it.
• For a vegetarian version of this dried bean soup, simply omit the meat and use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth.
• You can also add other vegetables to this soup, such as potatoes, kale, or spinach.
• For a spicier soup, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or some diced chiles.

Serving Suggestions

This ham and bean soup is delicious on its own, or you can garnish it with parsley and then serve it with some crusty bread for dipping. It’s also great with a side of cornbread or biscuits.

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Instructions

This slow cooker ham and bean soup recipe are perfect for meal prep – simply prepare the soup ahead of time, and then reheat it throughout the week. It’s even better the second time around!

To store, let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to five days.

To freeze, let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to three months.

When you’re ready to eat, simply thaw the soup overnight in the fridge, then reheat it on the stove over low heat until it’s hot. You may need to add a little water to thin it out, as the soup will thicken as it freezes.

Northern Beans In Crock Pot FAQ