Ham Bone Soup Recipe

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If you’re like me, you’re here because you know the value of a ham bone: an amazing Ham Bone Soup. My creamy potato and ham soup with ham bone makes the most of your leftovers and is ready in an hour using simple ingredients.

Ham Soup with Ham Bone

It’s no secret how much my family loves ham recipes for the holidays. I look forward to making ham at least twice a year, whether it’s smoked, grilled, roasted, air fried, or cooked in the Instant Pot. But, even more than that, I look forward to what I can make using the leftovers!

My favorite part of the leftovers is the ham bone, and this soup is the reason why. Ham bone soup is incredibly flavorful, and because the bone is so meaty, you won’t even have to add any extra ham. (But why not add some anyway?)

Full of ham, potatoes, and a creamy soup base, this is the best ham soup recipe you will ever try. I promise! The next time you have ham leftovers, you have to try making this recipe. In fact, I bet you’ll want to make another ham right away just to for more soup!

Ingredients in Ham Bone Soup

• Ham Bone Broth: I’m using my homemade ham stock, which calls for a ham bone, celery, carrots, yellow onion, garlic, and bay leaves. (Instructions included!) You can make this soup without making the stock from ham bone, but it won’t be quite as flavorful. Still tasty, though!
• Olive Oil: I’m using extra virgin olive oil in this recipe to saute the carrots, celery, and onion.
• Onion: Yellow onion works best. White onion will work alright, but don’t use red onion, it’s too astringent.
• Garlic: You can use fresh minced garlic or garlic paste.
• Carrots: Peeled and chopped to an even size.
• Celery: Chop to an even size.
• Bay Leaves: For adding to the broth’s depth of flavor!
• Ham: You can use leftover ham that you’ve diced up and chopped, or, if you’re making this soup without leftovers, any thick diced ham.
• Potatoes: I’m using peeled and diced russet potatoes and find they work best. You can also use Yukon gold potatoes, however.
• Heavy Cream: Or milk! This makes the soup nice and creamy.
• Salt and Pepper: Kosher salt or sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper works best.
• Parsley: Fresh, for garnish. Optional, but so good!

How to Make Ham Bone Stock

1. In a large pot add the leftover ham bone, roughly chopped carrots, celery, bay leaves, garlic, onion, and water. Cover with a lid, then simmer on low heat for 4-6 hours.
2. Remove the lid and stir the broth well, then discard the bay leaves. Pour the broth through a very fine strainer or cheesecloth, then use it to make ham bone soup (below)!

How to Make Ham Soup with Ham Bone

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, 3-5 minutes or so.
2. Add minced garlic and cook another minute.
3. Pour ham stock into the pot and add bay leaves. over the pot with a lid and simmer on low for 30 minutes.
4. When 30 minutes is up, add diced ham and potatoes. Cook another 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Slowly add in heavy cream and mix well.
5. Allow the soup to simmer for an additional 5 minutes to thicken. Finally, season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, and enjoy!

Ham Soup Recipe with Bone Expert Tips

• You can use cornstarch or Wondra flour to thicken the soup. I prefer cornstarch as it keeps the soup gluten-free.
• Although I choose to add extra ham to my soup, you may find you don’t need to because the bone is so meaty!
• Heavy cream and milk both work well in this recipe. Heavy cream will give you a richer, creamier soup, but you might prefer the subtlety of milk instead. Both are delicious.

Recipe for Ham Bone Soup Variations

• Try adding beans to this soup. Navy beans and great northern beans are great. I even added green beans, and this soup was fantastic.
• I love adding peas and corn for a fun twist on this soup.
• You can have fun with almost any veggies in this soup. One of my favorite vegetables to add is sweet potato.
• If you want a thickened soup, you can use an immersion blender; it will thicken the soup.

Storing and Freezing Soup Made with Ham Bone

1. You can store leftover ham soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
2. If you want to freeze ham soup, do not add the milk mixture when first preparing it. Freeze the soup without any added dairy. Freeze in an airtight freezer-safe container with at least a half-inch of space at the top for up to 3 months. When ready to heat, first thaw in the refrigerator, then bring to a simmer on the stove and continue the recipe from step 7.

Reheating Leftover Ham Bone Soup

• Microwave: You can microwave leftover ham soup in a microwave-safe bowl covered with a paper towel. Heat for 50 seconds, stir, and continue heating in intervals as necessary until heated through.
• Stove: You can also heat leftover ham soup on the stove. Add it to a saucepot and heat over medium-low heat until heated through.

Ham Bone Soup Recipe FAQ

Ham Leftovers

• What to Do with Leftover Ham
• Ham Salad
• Ham Cheese Sliders
• Ham Fried Rice
• Potatoes and Ham Casserole

If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!

Recipe

Ham Bone Soup

Isabel Laessig

If you have a leftover ham bone, don't toss it! Use it to make this incredible Ham Bone Soup- it will change the way you use leftover ham forever!

5 from 7 votes

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Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine American

Servings 10 servings

Calories 129 kcal

Equipment

• Large pot

Ingredients

  

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Soup Ingredients

• 8 cups ham stock see ingredients and steps below
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ cup yellow onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 3 large carrots peeled and chopped
• 3 stalks celery chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups ham diced
• 3 large russet potatoes peeled and diced
• 1 cup heavy cream or milk
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon fresh parsley for garnish

Ham Stock Ingredients

• 1 ham bone
• 2 stalks celery halved
• 2 large carrots roughly chopped
• ½ large yellow onion roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 12 cups water

Instructions

 

Ham Stock Instructions

• In a large pot add the ham bones, roughly chopped carrots, celery, bay leaves, garlic, onion, and water.
  1 ham bone, 2 stalks celery, 2 large carrots, ½ large yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 bay leaves, 12 cups water
• Cover with a lid, them simmer on low heat for 4-6 hours.
• Remove the lid and stir the broth well, then remove the bay leaves.
• Pour the broth through very fine strainer or cheese cloth, then use.

Ham Soup Instructions

• Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, 3-5 minutes or so.
  1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ cup yellow onion, 3 large carrots, 3 stalks celery
• Add minced garlic and cook another minute.
  2 cloves garlic
• Pour ham stock into the pot and add bay leaves.
  2 bay leaves, 8 cups ham stock
• Cover the pot with a lid and simmer on low for 30 minutes.
• When 30 minutes is up, add diced ham and potatoes. Cook another 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  2 cups ham, 3 large russet potatoes
• Slowly pour in heavy cream and mix well.
  1 cup heavy cream
• Allow the soup to simmer an additional 5 minutes to thicken.
• Finally, season soup with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, and enjoy!
  1 teaspoon fresh parsley

Final StepPlease leave a rating and comment below to tell me what you think of the recipe! This helps me know which recipes you’re looking for, so I can continue to provide you with high-quality recipes at no cost.

Video

Notes

• You can use cornstarch or wondra flour to thicken the soup. I prefer cornstarch as it keeps the soup gluten-free.
• Although I choose to add extra ham to my soup, you may find you don’t need to because the bone is so meaty!
• Heavy cream and milk both work well in this recipe. Heavy cream will give you a richer, creamier soup, but you might prefer the subtlety of milk instead. Both are delicious.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 129kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 7gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 356mgPotassium: 463mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 4813IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 1mg

Keyword ham bone soup, ham bone soup recipe, hambone soup, soup with ham bone