Southern Great Northern Beans With Leftover Ham Bone

These Great Northern Beans with Leftover Ham Bone are close to soup or stew, thick and creamy, just what comfort food is all about!

Old School Cooking!  Great Northern Beans Recipe With Ham

Mother was an old-school cook who made use of the simple conveniences available at the time. She used the ham bone to build the flavor of the beans and followed up with salt and pepper to taste, resulting in pure comfort food at its best.

Our Christmas ham this year was super delicious, and the first thing we always look forward to is cooking the ham bone in a pot of beans.  

In fact, it never gets frozen. Straight to the pot it went with some Great Northern Beans.

  

Leftover Ham and Great Northern Beans, cooked on the stovetop in a big soup pot, just like my Mother cooked hers. 

I started adding a chopped onion at the end of cooking the beans, which bumps up more flavors.

A crockpot is an excellent option for cooking them, but remember that they take less time to cook than pinto beans.  

The upside--you get to enjoy all those juices quicker with a big slab of cornbread.

You'll want to make some of these the next time you have leftover ham with a hambone.  Enjoy!

WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE?  TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR SOUTHERN GREAT NORTHERN BEANS WITH HAM

Below, under the next heading, I provide a list of preferred ingredients, tips, and cooking instructions for Southern Ham and Great Northern Beans, as well as similar recipe ideas you can try.

You can also scroll down to the bottom, where you will find a full printable recipe card with the amounts of the ingredients, complete instructions, and notes.

TIPS AND TIDBITS TO PREPARE THE BEST GREAT NORTHERN BEANS WITH HAM

Beans.  I prefer using great northern beans due to their size and flavor.  Cannellini, navy, or small white beans can also be used.

Not enough leftover ham.  If there is not enough leftover ham left on the ham bone, you can add deli ham or packaged boneless ham cubed. 

Water vs. broth.  Some recipes for beans and ham call for broth, but I prefer the purest flavor of the ham and beans without adding broth.  

Naturally thickens.  The hot beans and ham will take on the texture of soup.  Beans and ham will naturally thicken as they cool, becoming more of a side dish, equally delicious.

To cook in a slow cooker.  Add 6 cups of water and all the other ingredients to a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Ham and salt.  The ham has some salt in it, so adjust the taste and add salt and pepper accordingly.

WHAT YOU NEED TO PREPARE GREAT NORTHERN BEANS WITH HAM

Large stockpot

Dried Great Northern Beans
Ham bone with leftover ham on it
Salt and pepper
Onion

HOW TO PREPARE GREAT NORTHERN BEANS WITH LEFTOVER HAM

In a large pot, add the ham bone and beans, then cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Turn the heat to medium-low and cook until tender, about 4-6 hours (see Cook's Note).

Add chopped onions and cook for an additional 30 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste.

Remove the ham from the ham bone. Add the ham back into the pot with the beans.

Serve with a pan of cornbread.

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