This slow-cooked ham, sweet potato, and white bean soup with crispy bacon offers a deeply smoky, luxuriously creamy, and incredibly hearty experience. Crafted for convenience with minimal prep, it’s a healthy yet indulgent meal perfect for chilly days.

Ultimate Slow Cooker Ham, Sweet Potato, and White Bean Soup with Bacon

There’s nothing quite like a warm, comforting bowl of soup to chase away the winter blues, and this recipe delivers on all fronts. Forget trendy, gourmet concoctions; this is a humble, homey, and utterly satisfying ham and bean soup, elevated by the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes and the irresistible crunch of bacon. It’s the kind of meal that wraps you in a warm embrace, making even the most hectic days feel a little more manageable.

While I cherish moments of culinary experimentation, some days call for simplicity and proven comfort. This slow cooker marvel fits that bill perfectly. It’s designed for those times when your coping skills are low, and your schedule is relentlessly busy. The beauty of this soup lies in its minimal hands-on time – simply combine the ingredients, and your slow cooker does the rest, creating a dish that tastes like you’ve spent hours fussing over it.

This soup is a truly wonderful way to utilize leftover ham. If you don’t happen to have any ham remnants from a holiday meal, don’t fret! Your local deli can thick-slice some high-quality ham for you, ensuring robust, satisfying chunks in every spoonful. The combination of savory ham, tender white beans, and the earthy sweetness of sweet potatoes creates a flavor profile that is both complex and deeply familiar. It’s exactly the kind of stick-to-your-ribs meal needed to power through a long, cold winter.

Why This Ham, Sweet Potato, and White Bean Soup is a Must-Try

This isn’t just another soup; it’s a culinary experience that embodies the very essence of warm, winter comfort food, without compromising on health. The balance of smoky ham and bacon with the inherent sweetness of sweet potatoes is simply divine. Each spoonful offers a delightful blend of textures and tastes: the tender, protein-rich beans, the soft sweet potatoes, and the savory ham all swimming in a rich, creamy broth. And with the optional, but highly recommended, crisp bacon topping, you get an extra layer of irresistible smoky flavor and crunch.

Beyond its incredible taste, this soup is remarkably wholesome. Packed with protein from ham and beans, fiber from vegetables, and slow-burning carbohydrates from sweet potatoes, it’s a meal that truly nourishes. It’s surprisingly healthy, ensuring you feel good about what you’re eating even as you indulge in its comforting qualities. I’m convinced this soup possesses the power to heal all trivial sorrows, offering a moment of warmth and contentment in a bowl.

The Magic of Slow Cooking: Effortless Flavor Development

The slow cooker is truly the unsung hero of this recipe. It allows the ingredients to meld together over hours, developing a depth of flavor that simply cannot be rushed. The ham infuses the broth with its savory essence, while the sweet potatoes slowly break down, contributing to the soup’s inherent creaminess and subtle sweetness. The white beans soften to perfection, absorbing all the wonderful flavors around them. This “set it and forget it” approach makes it an ideal meal for busy weekdays, allowing you to come home to a delicious, hot meal with minimal effort.

Prepping this soup takes mere minutes. Chop a few vegetables, toss everything into the slow cooker, and let the appliance work its magic. No constant stirring, no worrying about boiling over, just a steady, gentle simmer that transforms simple ingredients into a gourmet-tasting, homemade masterpiece. It’s convenience without compromise, perfect for families, meal preppers, or anyone looking for a wholesome, fuss-free dinner.

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Ham, Sweet Potato and White Bean Soup with Bacon {Slow Cooker}

Yield:

8
servings

Prep Time:

20
mins

Cook Time:

9
hrs

Total Time:

9
hrs
20
mins

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Ingredients

• ½ cup
  diced yellow or white onion
• 2 cloves
  garlic, finely minced or pressed
• 2 cups
  cooked, diced ham (see note)
• 1 large
  sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1 pound
  dry white beans, like Great Northern, rinsed (see note)
• 1 ½ teaspoons
  paprika (see note)
• 1 teaspoon
  salt
• ½ teaspoon
  black pepper
• 8 cups
  low-sodium chicken broth
• 4-6 slices
  bacon or turkey bacon, diced

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients except the bacon in a 5-quart slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-9 hours (refer to the note regarding presoaking dry beans for best results).
2. Carefully puree 1/2 to 3/4 of the soup in a blender to achieve your desired consistency. When blending hot soups, remember to only fill the blender halfway and process in batches to prevent expansion. I prefer to scoop out spoonfuls of soup free of ham for blending, but if you want to puree everything, that’s fine too. Alternatively, use an immersion blender directly in the pot, blending until it reaches your preferred level of creaminess, leaving as much texture as you desire.
3. Taste the soup and adjust with additional salt and pepper as needed.
4. In a hot skillet, cook the diced bacon until it’s wonderfully crisp. Drain the cooked bacon on paper towels to remove excess fat. Serve the soup hot, garnished generously with the crumbled bacon on top.

Notes for a Perfect Soup

Boosting Smoky Flavor: To intensify the smoky notes in this already delicious soup, consider substituting regular paprika with smoked paprika. This small change makes a significant difference.

Cooking Dry Beans: I’ve successfully prepared this soup twice without presoaking the dry beans, and they cooked to a perfectly tender consistency. However, some readers, especially those living at high altitudes, have reported that their beans weren’t quite tender after a full day of slow cooking. If this is a concern for you, or if you prefer extra assurance, soak the dry beans in cool water overnight before adding them to the slow cooker. This extra step ensures uniform tenderness. For more insights on bean preparation, you might find tips in this related recipe.

Choosing Your Ham: A recipe like this one is ideal for providing the perfect style of ham for this soup. However, if you don’t have any leftover ham on hand, your local deli is an excellent resource. Ask them to thick-slice the ham, ensuring that your diced pieces are wonderfully chunky and substantial, rather than thin and easily lost in the soup.

Freezing for Later: This cooked and thoroughly cooled soup freezes exceptionally well. It’s an ideal candidate for meal prep, allowing you to enjoy a comforting meal anytime with minimal effort. Simply thaw and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Author:
Mel

Course:
Soup

Cuisine:
American

Method:

Slow Cooker

Calories:
359
kcal

,

Carbohydrates:
47
g

,

Protein:
26
g

,

Fat:
8
g

,

Saturated Fat:
3
g

,

Cholesterol:
22
mg

,

Sodium:
811
mg

,

Fiber:
10
g

,

Sugar:
4
g

Recommended Products

8-Quart Slow Cooker

Immersion Blender

Garlic Press

Recipe Inspiration: This recipe is a delightful adaptation from Everyday Reading, with further inspiration drawn from Our Best Bites. Both sources offer fantastic ideas for comforting, flavorful dishes.