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This simple, delicious, and healthy Ham Bean Cabbage Soup recipe is one you will want to make on those cool fall and cold winter nights.
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Ham and Bean Soup with Cabbage
I have tons and tons of recipes I’ve gathered over the years. Believe it or not, I have even purged 😭 some of the ones I knew I would probably never make. Mostly because they were
- too complicated
- required weird ingredients
- didn’t fit my family’s tastes
- because I had other similar recipes
If you know me, purging recipes is not an easy task. I’m a recipe hoarder. 😬 I think I need a 12 step program or something. It’s really that bad y’all. (Have you seen my Pinterest boards?! They will more than prove it to ya. Now not only do I have tons of books and loose papers, but I have also moved over into digital hoarding now. Looking at some of all y’alls boards, I know I am not alone! 🤣)
Ham Bean Soup
I found this soup recipe years ago. My memory is slipping these days and I can’t even remember who or where it came from. I filed it away for quite some time before I ever really made it. Once, while I was looking through my recipes (because that’s what all cool foodies do), I stopped on this recipe and wondered why I hadn’t tried it before. I loved the simplicity, the fact that it was healthy, and budget-friendly. Hello, new soup recipe – where and why have you been hiding from me?! Lord knows I probably have gazillions of other recipes lovingly tucked away, waiting to be rediscovered.
Help me! Don’t be like me. 😉
This recipe feeds my soup love. My deep, sincere love of soup. I don’t discriminate – I love ’em all. There is something so comforting in a bowl of soup – it renders warm and fuzzy feelings. I like feeling warm and fuzzy feelings.
This easy soup recipe comes together quickly. A few aromatic veggies are combined with ham (or smoked turkey), cabbage, diced tomatoes, and a can of beans. I don’t know what it is, but I’m convinced the simplest recipes are always the best.
How to make Ham Bean Cabbage Soup
Ingredients
- onion
- carrots
- olive oil
- chicken broth – you can also use vegetable broth
- pre-cooked ham or smoked turkey
- cabbage – kale is a great substitute
- diced tomatoes
- chili powder
- Great Northern beans – any kind of bean would work well in this recipe
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, saute the onion and carrots in oil until the onion is tender.
- Add the broth, ham or smoked turkey, cabbage, tomatoes, and chili powder.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer the soup for 15-20 minutes.
- Add the beans, salt, and pepper. Continue to simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the cabbage is tender.
- Serve.
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What goes with Ham Bean Cabbage Soup
Any kind of bread or salad is my go-to side dish with this recipe! Some of my family’s favorite bread choices are BEST Garlic Bread, Buttery Rolls, Soft and Buttery Crescent Rolls, Soft Italian Breadsticks, Herbed Dinner Rolls, or my Southern Cornbread. For salads, we usually keep it pretty simple, but we especially love 7 Layer Salad or Italian-Style Salad.
Ham Bean Soup FAQs
Once the soup is cooled, transfer it to food-safe containers with a lid and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
Yes, you can! Allow the soup to cool before transferring it to freezer-safe containers. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw soup overnight in the refrigerator before using.
STOVETOP: Place soup in a saucepan or soup pot. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot.
MICROWAVE: Place soup in a microwave-safe container or bowl. Cover it loosely, allowing steam to vent. Microwave for three minutes (or until heated through), stopping after each one minute, to stir the soup.
Recipe Tips
- This soup easily doubles.
- You can easily use homemade stock in place of the store-bought broth if you prefer.
- You can also cook your own beans and use them in place of the canned beans.
- Feel free to switch it up to use whatever kind of beans you have on hand.
- Try experimenting with different seasonings.
Other recipes you may enjoy
Ham, Bean and Cabbage Soup
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 8 ounces pre-cooked ham or smoked turkey, diced
- 2 cups cabbage, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained, 14.5 oz.
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 can Great Northern beans, drained, 16 oz.
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, saute the onion and carrots in oil until the onion is tender.
- Add the broth, ham or smoked turkey, cabbage, tomatoes, and chili powder.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer the soup for 15-20 minutes.
- Add the beans, salt, and pepper. Continue to simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the cabbage is tender.
- Serve.
Notes
- This soup easily doubles.
- You can easily use homemade stock in place of the store-bought broth if you prefer.
- You can also cook your own beans and use them in place of the canned beans.
- Feel free to switch it up to use whatever kind of beans you have on hand.
- Try experimenting with different seasonings.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published on October 12, 2012. Updated on September 28, 2021.
You know those days when there’s nothing thawed or in the fridge or planned for dinner ? Well, tonite was that nite !
I brainstormed as to what I could possibly cook and googled cabbage bean ham……this recipe popped up amongst others and it sounded the most promissing for the ingredients I had on hand. I HATE when folks say ‘I made it with a few changes’ but I had to only use what I had on hand. I sauteed 1 lg. onion, 1/2 head finely shredded cabbage & 1 lg clove garlic & a little salt & pepper. I added 2 drained cans great northern, 1 can canellini & a can crushed tomatoes along with chicken broth & chili powder and finally a little frozen corn, peas & carrots.
The result, for some reason, was mind-blowingly good ! The hubby had 2 bowls while singing his praises and I loved it.
Thanks for the inspiration !
Jamie,
HA! A fellow recipe hoarder here 🙂 I know what you mean about purging recipes. I have stacks of pages I print out every day from blogs and I so need to go through them and only keep the ones I REALLY intend to try. This soup is delicious looking so I'll probably be adding one more to my stack! Thanks! If you ever find that 12 step program, sign me up 🙂
Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you share this week! Have a wonderful week.
Michelle
This soup looks so warm and cozy. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great weekend and come back soon!
Miz Helen
I love soups like this! Sarah