One Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Ham Bone Soup {With Leftover Ham}

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Quick and easy instant pot leftover ham bone soup recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in 30 minutes. Full of potatoes, beans, other vegetables and fresh herbs.

This soup reminds me of home. It’s a classic recipe to warm your heart and fill you belly. One of the best parts is that it uses a leftover ham bone, so you aren’t wasting food. For the next meal, try out these other easy ham recipes too: Instant Pot Corn Chowder (With Ham, Bacon, Potato) and Slow Cooker Ham.

Instant Pot Ham Bone Soup Served in Blue Bowl

How to make instant pot ham bone soup recipe from scratch?

  1. Sauté ingredients- This includes onion, carrots, celery, potatoes, garlic, bay leaf.
  2. Add other ingredients– This includes broth, ham bone, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper.
  3. Mix– Until combined.
  4. Cover- And cook.
  5. Release pressure- Do a quick pressure release.
  6. Add beans, ham– And mix.
  7. Cook uncovered– Until potatoes are tender.

What sides to serve with leftover ham soup?

There are many options you can serve alongside this soup. One of my go-tos is bread:

  • Dinner rolls
  • Biscuits
  • Artisan bread
  • Breadsticks
  • Cornbread

You can also serve a salad:

Even some tasty sandwiches will pair great:

How long is a ham bone good for? Can you freeze a ham bone? 

After a ham bone is cooked, you can keep it in the fridge for about 3-4 days. You can also freeze the ham bone for 1-2 months.

Easy Ham And Bean Soup in Blue Bowl- Overhead Shot

Variations for ham and bean soup

Split pea and ham soup- Switch it up and cook up my Split Pea Soup (One Pot). The leftover ham bone can be used in that tasty recipe.

Ham hock soup- If you don’t have a ham bone from a previous meal, you can also find a ham hock at your local grocery store and use that. Ham hocks tend to have less meat on them, but they still carry the flavor needed to make a good soup.

Add tomatoes- You can add some juicy tomatoes into the batch for even more vegetables as a healthy addition. Toss in some of your other favorite veggies as well!

Add other spices and herbs- This can really change the taste of the soup overall. For a more Italian twist try adding rosemary, basil, or oregano. If you want more spice, add in cayenne pepper or just increase the black pepper. There are many possibilities, depending on your preferred taste. Have fun with it and adjust spices as needed.

Make creamy soup- If you want your soup more creamy, you can add in coconut milk, heavy cream, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, or even whip in a bit of softened cream cheese. The overall flavor will change depending on which ingredient you use.

Tips and techniques ham and potato soup

What beans to use in soup?– I suggest using Cannellini beans, but you can also try navy beans, great northern beans, or red kidney beans.

Don’t add beans and diced cooked ham in the beginning- Because they will disintegrate during cooking. Adding them near the end ensures they hold their shape which helps with the overall texture.

Cut potatoes small- So that they cook faster and you won’t end up with partially cooked potato pieces in your soup.

Omit the beans- If you don’t enjoy beans or simply want a less creamy soup, omit the beans altogether and have a more simplified meal.

How to thicken soup? Mix in some cornstarch slurry or some mashed potatoes or cook uncovered for longer to reduce excess liquid.

How to make soup thinner?– Simply stir in more broth ot water for a thinner consistency.

Closeup Shot of Ham and Potato Soup

Storage

Refrigerator- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave or stovetop.

Freezer- Store leftovers in a sealed container for up to 1 month. Reheat in microwave or stovetop.

More Instant pot soup recipes

Instant Pot Ham Bone Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Quick and easy instant pot leftover ham bone soup recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in 30 minutes. Full of potatoes, beans, other vegetables and fresh herbs.
Yield: 6 People

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Oil
  • 1 cup Onion, Finely chopped
  • 2 Carrots, Medium size, Peeled, Diced
  • 2 stalks Celery, Washed, Diced
  • 1.5 cups Potatoes, Peeled, Diced into 1 inch cubes
  • 3 cloves Garlic, Finely minced
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 4 cups Broth, Vegetable or chicken, Low sodium
  • 1 Leftover ham bone
  • 2-3 sprigs Thyme, Fresh, Adjust according to your preference
  • 2 tbsp Parsley, Fresh, Finely chopped
  • Salt , To taste
  • Pepper, To taste
  • 1 can Cannellini beans, 15 oz. can, Drained, Rinsed
  • 1.5 cups Leftover diced ham, Already cooked

Instructions 

  • Turn Instant Pot to "Sauté" mode and heat oil.
  • Add onion, carrots, celery, potatoes, garlic, bay leaf and saute for a few minutes until garlic is fragrant and onion is partially softened.
  • Add broth, ham bone, thyme, parsley, salt, pepper and mix until combined.
  • Put the lid on and turn the the valve to “Sealing.”
  • Select “Manual” mode and set the timer for 10 minutes.
  • When the cook time is over, turn valve to “Venting” and do a quick pressure release. 
  • Remove lid and mix in cannellini beans and leftover diced ham.
  • Turn on the "Saute" mode and continue cooking uncovered until soup is thickened to your desired consistency and potatoes are tender. Please note that this is a broth-based soup and thus, it will not become super thick.
  • Discard bay leaf and ham bone and enjoy!

Notes

  • Read all my tips above.
  • Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave or stovetop. 

Nutrition

Calories: 126kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 811mg, Potassium: 154mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 3920IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 68mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 126
Author: Abeer Rizvi

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating