Recipe Details

• Author: deesviral
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 servings
• Category: Soup / Comfort Food
• Cuisine: American
• Keywords: ham and bean soup, creamy soup, white beans, deesviral

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 cups diced cooked ham
• 3 cans (15 oz each) white beans (Great Northern or cannellini), drained and rinsed
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened (about 5–7 minutes).
2. Add diced ham and cook for 2 more minutes to heat through.
3. Add beans, chicken broth, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, uncovered.
4. Use an immersion blender to blend a portion of the soup to make it thick and creamy, or mash a few beans with a spoon.
5. Stir in the cream or half-and-half. Simmer for 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy with warm bread!

Tips & Variations

• Use leftover holiday ham or a ham bone for even more flavor.
• Want it dairy-free? Skip the cream and mash extra beans to thicken.
• Spice it up with a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika.