Leftover Hambone Soup
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You can use up your leftover hambone to make this cozy, hearty soup loaded with tons of veggies and chunks of sweet ham!
Featured Comment
reasons to make hambone soup
- Repurposes leftover holiday hambone
- Makes for an amazing, flavorful ham stock
- Warm, cozy, hearty, hug-in-a-bowl vibes
- Great clean-out-the-fridge meal, adding in leftover vegetables and extra herbs
tips and tricks for success
- Use a hambone. Not only can you repurpose a leftover hambone, but the hambone will add such luscious flavor, richness and body to the soup.
- Add pasta. Add ditalini, macaroni or a small shape pasta for a heartier soup.
- Add in leafy greens. This is a great recipe to sneak in leafy greens for those picky eaters. Spinach, kale, collard greens, swiss chard, or arugula are all great options.
- Serve with crusty bread. Serve with all the homemade crusty bread for dipping, sopping and dunking!
- Freeze as needed. Hambone soup is a great recipe to freeze, perfect for a quick, cozy weeknight meal in the coming weeks. Always use airtight, resealable freezer bags, label, date and freeze up to 3 months.
what to serve with hambone soup
Tools For This Recipe
Dutch oven
Leftover Hambone Soup: Frequently Asked Questions
This can certainly be made without the hambone. It may not have the exact same flavors or richness than using the bone, but it will still be a great way to use up all that leftover holiday ham.
Absolutely! But because dried herbs are often more potent/concentrated than fresh herbs, you need less when using dry. The correct ratio is 1 tablespoon fresh herbs to 1 teaspoon dried herbs.
Yes! This is a great IP version for an even quicker time stamp.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Yes! You can freeze the leftovers in individual freezer bags, thaw overnight, and reheat on the stovetop.
Leftover Hambone Soup
Ingredients
- 1 leftover hambone
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 1 russet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 cup canned white kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- ¾ cup frozen corn kernels
- ¾ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 bay leaves
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ cups leftover diced ham
Equipment
Instructions
- Place leftover hambone in a large stockpot or Dutch oven and add enough water to cover the bone halfway, about 6-7 cups. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until very fragrant, about 30 minutes to 1 hour; set aside ham stock and discard hambone.
- Heat olive oil in the large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, carrots and potato. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in ham stock, beans, corn, thyme and bay leaves; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in ham until heated through, about 1-2 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
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Really cold yesterday and I wanted a hearty soup for the evening. This was really easy to assemble and cook. My daughter and son in law said it was delicious after coming home from the gym in the evening.
I used 2 smoked pork chops, canned corn, and Mexican oregano because that’s what I had in the house. Definitely making this again.
So Yummy! I love the different textures and that it has a hint of sweetness from the corn to balance out the savory ham. Like a warm hug for the soul! Everyone in my family (even the picky ones) approves. I add a package of diced ham since I typically only have a bone leftover but basically follow the recipe as written other than all dried seasonings.
Excellent with a little doctoring. I didn’t drain the beans and used 2 cans of great northern and/or cannellini the second time I made it and it was better. Used more ham and 1 cup + of corn and liberal salt and pepper. I also added 1/4-1/2 tsp of dry mustard.
Really good, easy and quick recipe to use up that bone and leftover ham!
My son asked me to make soup with his leftover ham with bone. I found your recipe for leftover hambone soup. Made it according to your directions. His wife says, “BEST SOUP EVER” and I make a lot of soups. Thank you kindly for the recipe.
Awesome! Froze our hambone from Christmas. I ended up needing more liquid so added a qt of chicken stock to the ham bone stock. Also had to Texan it up a little- added a chopped poblano and serrano at the time the onion was added. Threw in a can of fire roasted tomatoes b/c it started looking like tortilla soup. Will be trying your other stuff
Soooo satisfying!! Did a little tweaking from other reviews, my personality of experimenting and of course NEVER having all of the proper ingredients . A just healthy enough, warm your soul, comfort food that I needed today and most definitely again. And I have no doubt the leftovers will be even better! A KEEPER!
It sound wonderful and I’m looking forward to making it as I made a ham today for Sunday dinner. I just wish you had included nutrition information. Thanks.
Yum. Single widow guy says thanks.
Quick easy and very tasty. Well done
This came out amazing. I made a few tweaks because I avoid regular potatoes because of my stomach. I subbed fresh diced butternut squash, about a cup give or take for the potatoes, and food processed about two cups of veggies and broth before adding in the diced ham and corn. It took me a little longer, but I had the time. It was so creamy and delightfully fulling. Thank you for an easy delicious recipe!
Outstanding recipe and so easy. We can’t wait to have it again.
Will definitely follow damn delicious for more great recipes.
Had a hambone leftover from Christmas and made this soup and it was “damndelicous”. I added a 1/2 tsp fresh dill and a can of peas and it was delicious. Will make again at Easter when we have our next ham.
Delicous
Delicious and easy ! I added celery but that’s the only change I made.
This was really good, I added kale and fresh herbs to mine.
Delicious. I used a leftover ham bone from a ham I had smoked in my smoker which added a smoked flavor.
I also added celery and boiled the ham bone for 4/5 hours otherwise followed the recipe.
A new favorite for our family!
Absolutely delicious!
I had two frozen ham bones in the freezer, used them both. One had a decent amount of meat left on the bone. Perfect amount for this.
Let the ham bones cook for about 4-5 hours until the marrow released. Highly recommend doing that for a creamier / more flavorful stock!
Added celery, and thickened with corn starch / water mix at the end. Otherwise followed to a T. This will definitely be my new go to for using up ham bones!
If you know anyone (friends or family) that throw away their ham bones, ask them to save them for you! Vac seal them and just chuck them in the freezer! Such a great thing to have in the freezer in the winter. Easy to use what you have in the fridge / pantry to make a hearty healthy meal! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! Whole family loved it!
Followed the recipe pretty close, with only the minor addition of some celery salt and extra garlic, and it turned out amazing!
If you are in a rush, only simmering the hambone for an hour or so works perfect. It came out amazing and adding in the ham meat adds that awesome boost of flavour, especially if it was cured!
Made this today and it is damn delicious I must say. I boiled the ham bone for 6 hours so that the bone marrow released and made a creamy soup. We all loved it. Will make again for sure! Thanks for the recipe, it’s a keeper.
Hambone soup is always a crowd pleaser
Excellent soup, easy to make and came out delicious! The whole family loved it.
This is a very flavorful soup. My adult daughter could not get enough of it. I added a couple of parsnips and a small white turnip because I had them on hand and they totally complemented the gentle sweetness of the soup.