Easy Ham Bone Soup Recipe

If you have some leftover bone-in ham from the holidays, this homemade ham bone soup is the perfect dish to make. It’s easy to prepare and has great flavor. 

This ham bone soup is loaded with savory ham and tender vegetables, perfect for a comforting meal during cold winter days.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• cooked bone-in ham
• unsalted butter
• onion
• carrot
• celery
• potatoes
• garlic
• all-purpose flour
• chicken stock
• chicken bouillon
• milk
• salt and pepper

(Note: Full recipe is at the bottom of the post)

How to Make Ham Bone Soup

• Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, and celery for about 4 minutes until they begin to soften.
• Remove the ham from the bone and cut into small cubes.
• Add the bone, cubed ham, and the potatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add the flour and cook for about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the bouillon and stir all of the ingredients together. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Cook for about 10-12 minutes until the potatoes are just fork tender.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the milk. Stir for about 5 minutes until thickened.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve warm and enjoy.

Tips and Tricks

• If the soup is too thick, add additional milk in 1/4 cup increments until the soup has the desired consistency.
• If the soup isn’t thick enough, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of milk to create a slurry. Stir into the soup as it boils for a few minutes until thickened. 

How Long Does It Take To Boil Ham Off The Bone?

It’ll take 3-4 hours to boil the ham off the bone. It’s well worth the wait because you’ll be left with a broth that’s full of delicious meaty flavor. 

How to Make Ham Broth

Follow these steps to make your own ham broth using a leftover ham bone:

• Simmer the ham bone in a stock pot filled with enough water to cover the bone halfway.
• Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and cover with a lid. Simmer for about 1 hour until very fragrant.
• Discard the hambone.
• Use the ham broth to replace the chicken stock called for in the ham soup recipe. 

Can I Freeze A Ham Bone?

Yes. It’s a great idea to freeze ham bones and use them later for soups. Place the bone in a freezer-safe container or a resealable freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to two months. 

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Ham Bone Soup Recipe

If you have some leftover bone-in ham from the holidays, this homemade ham bone soup is the perfect dish to make. It’s easy to prepare and has great flavor.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups cooked bone-in ham diced
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 cup carrot diced
• 1/2 cup celery diced
• 3 cups potatoes diced
• 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
• 3 cups milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, and celery for about 4 minutes until they begin to soften.
• Remove the ham from the bone and cut it into small cubes.
• Add the bone, cubed ham, and the potatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Add the flour and cook for about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the bouillon and stir all of the ingredients together. Increase the heat and bring to a boil. Cook for about 10-12 minutes until the potatoes are just fork tender.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the milk. Stir for about 5 minutes until thickened.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve warm and enjoy.