Name: Weight Watchers Ham and Bean Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound navy beans; 2 cups diced ham; 15 ounces low sodium chicken broth; 2 ¼ cups water; 1 small onion, diced; 2 cloves of garlic, diced; 1 teaspoon olive oil; 1 teaspoon parsley; salt and pepper to taste

If you are looking for a hearty and healthy dish, then you will definitely love this ham and bean soup recipe.

This soup is bursting with nutritious ingredients and comforting flavors, which makes it perfect for cozy family dinners or meal prep for the week ahead.

And the best part? This ham and bean soup recipe is Weight Watchers friendly and is only 3 Weight Watchers Smartpoints per serving!

Contents

How to make Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

With simple ingredients and an easy step by step preparation, you can quickly make your own delicious ham and bean soup. This hearty soup is packed with protein and healthy ingredients that will be beneficial for you and your family!

Ingredients

1 pound navy beans

2 cups diced ham

15 ounces low sodium chicken stock

2 ¼ cups water

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic, diced

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon parsley

salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

First step is to drain and rinse your navy beans, dice the ham into bite-sized pieces, and chop the onion and garlic.
Get your Instant Pot and turn on the sauté setting, then heat the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until they become translucent. This step helps to develop the flavors of the soup base.
Press the cancel button on your Instant Pot to stop the sautéing process. Then, add the drained and rinsed white beans, diced ham, black pepper, chopped parsley, and salt to the pot. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
Pour the low-sodium chicken stock and water into the Instant Pot. Make sure that all the ingredients are submerged in the liquid mixture. Give it a final stir to ensure that everything is coated in the liquid.
Place the lid securely on the Instant Pot and set it to high pressure cooking mode for 40 minutes. The Instant Pot will take approximately 20 minutes to come to pressure before the actual cooking time begins.
Once the cooking time is up, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for about 10 minutes.
After the release period, carefully do a quick release of any remaining pressure in the Instant Pot. Be careful of hot steam during this process. Once the pressure is fully released, carefully open the lid.
Stir the soup and taste to to check if you need to add more seasoning. Season more with salt and black pepper if needed to suit your taste preferences.
Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a drizzle of olive oil, then serve.

weight watchers ham and bean soup recipe

More notes and tips for an easy ham and bean soup

Even though navy beans are used in this recipe, you can also use other types of beans like white beans, cannellini beans, or Great Northern beans for variation.
For more nutrition and flavor, you can add more vegetables like diced carrots, celery, or bell peppers to the soup. These vegetables perfectly complement the ham and beans.
Consider different types of seasoning depending on your preference including a dash of smoked paprika, cumin, thyme, bay leaves, or Italian seasoning blend.
If you want a creamier texture, you can blend a portion of the soup using an immersion blender or regular blender before serving. This method will create a velvety consistency.
Be sure to go for lean ham cuts or trim excess fat from the ham before adding it to the soup to make the ingredients Weight Watchers friendly and to reduce the overall fat content.
Using freshly cooked beans instead of canned beans can enhance the texture and flavor of the soup greatly.
But if you are using canned beans, rinse them thoroughly to remove excess salt and starch.
If you want to thicken the soup without adding extra calories, you can create and add a cornstarch slurry to the recipe. To make the slurry, just mix cornstarch with a small amount of cold water until smooth, then stir it into the hot soup and simmer until thickened.
You can also cook this recipe with a slow cooker.
If you want more flavor, you can consider using a ham bone. When simmered with the soup, the ham bone releases rich flavors and a tasty smoky taste.

What to serve with ham and bean soup

What to do with leftover ham and bean soup

You can easily store your leftover ham and bean soup without needing to throw them away! Just allow the soup to cool down to room temperature before storing it.

Then, transfer the cooled soup to airtight containers or resealable bags. Store the soup in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.

For longer storage, you can freeze the leftover soup. Divide the soup into individual portions and into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.

Reheat the thawed or refrigerated soup on the stove top over medium heat until it reaches a simmer. Stir the soup occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.

You can also reheat the soup in the microwave using microwave-safe containers, stirring occasionally through the heating process.

If the soup thickens upon reheating, you can add a splash of broth, water, or milk to adjust the consistency to your preference. Stir well and serve!