Name: Navy Bean Soup, Crock Pot Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 375 min
Ingredients: 1 pound dried navy beans; 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1 medium onion (diced); 4 stalks celery (chopped); ½ pound ham (use left over ham pieces or a ham hock, ham bone, or smoked turkey leg for extra flavor); 1 bay leaf; ½ teaspoon dried thyme; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 quarts vegetable broth (can also use chicken broth)

Something about the smell of navy beans simmering away in the crock pot brings back memories of my grandmother’s kitchen. This navy bean soup is one of those slow, soul-warming meals that feels like a hug on a chilly day. Whether you’ve got a leftover holiday ham bone in the freezer or are starting from scratch, this recipe stretches your ingredients and helps you easily host friends and family for a wonderful meal.

A bowl filled with a hearty bean and ham soup. The soup consists of tender white beans, chunks of ham, and pieces of onion, all immersed in a rich, golden broth. A yellow and white checkered cloth is draped in the background.

Hearty Navy Beans The Easy Way

This hearty crockpot navy bean soup is savory, budget-friendly, and incredibly easy to make. It’s perfect for potlucks or busy weeknights. Using simple ingredients like dried beans, ham, and basic veggies, it delivers big flavor with little effort. You can prep ahead, freeze leftovers, and even double the batch for gatherings. For another hearty bean favorite, you might also enjoy trying this Easy Seasoned Tender Crock Pot Pinto Beans (Vegetarian).

Ingredient Tips

Here’s a quick overview of the key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and exact measurements, be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

An assortment of ingredients for Crock Pot Navy Beans are arranged on a white surface. They include dried navy beans, diced celery, chopped onions, garlic cloves, leftover ham, vegetable broth, thyme, bay leaf, and smoked paprika, each labeled with text.

Navy beans: Look for small, oval, cream-colored beans. Dried navy beans are an economical option and can be found in bulk bins or packaged in the bean aisle. Substitute with great northern beans or cannellini beans if needed.
Ham bone or diced ham: Check your grocery store’s meat section or ask the butcher for ham bones. I always use a leftover holiday ham bone or substitute it with smoked turkey legs.
Bay leaf: Find dried bay leaves in the spice aisle. Remove before serving, as the leaves are a choking hazard.
Chicken broth: Use low-sodium broth for better control over seasoning. Substitute with vegetable broth for a vegetarian version. For a broth variation that adds even more flavor, you might want to check out Easy-To-Follow Guide: Canning Bone Broth.

Do I need to soften the beans before cooking?

No, navy beans do not need to be softened by soaking them before cooking. However, rehydrating them will help them cook faster and make them more digestible if you have the time.

Overnight soak: To soak navy beans overnight before using them in a slow cooker, simply place the dried beans in a large bowl and cover them with water. Allow them to soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. This process helps to soften the beans and reduce cooking time. If you choose to soak them, be sure to drain and rinse them before adding them to the slow cooker.
Preboiling: To save time you can preboil the navy beans for 15 minutes before cooking them in the crock pot. This helps to remove some of the indigestible sugars that can cause digestive discomfort. You know the saying, beans beans the more you eat them……. It also helps to jumpstart the cooking process, resulting in softer beans in a shorter amount of time in the crockpot.

How to Cook Navy Beans In A Crock Pot

This is a simple, hearty recipe that’s easy to prepare using your slow cooker.

Prep For Crock Pot Navy Beans

Rinse dried navy beans and remove any debris. Boil them for 15 minutes, then drain and add them to your crock pot.

While the beans boil, chop the onion, celery, and garlic into small pieces. Add drained beans, chopped veggies, ham, bay leaf, thyme, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt.

A white slow cooker filled with dry white beans, ready for cooking. The background is a light grey, adding contrast to the white beans and cooker.

A slow cooker filled with uncooked white beans, chopped onions, diced celery, minced garlic, a bay leaf, and various ground spices. The ingredients are arranged in separate clusters over a white background.

Add Liquid and Cook

Next, stir in the vegetable broth. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours, until the beans are soft.

A white slow cooker filled with a soup or stew mixture containing chopped vegetables, white beans, and chunks of meat. A white stirring spoon is resting inside the slow cooker. The liquid is a light brown broth.

A white crockpot filled with cooked white beans and pieces of ham in a thick broth. A white ladle is lifting a portion of the beans and ham. The dish appears well-seasoned and hearty.

Tip: If you want a creamy navy bean soup remove ⅓ of the soup and blend it with an immersion blender or in a blender until smooth. Stir it back into the crock pot for a creamier texture.

A white bowl filled with baked navy beans, pieces of bacon or ham, and topped with diced onions, placed next to a yellow and white checkered cloth on a white surface.

Tips for Variations and Substitutions

This Crockpot navy beans recipe is very versatile. Here are a few ideas for how you can change it up:

Bone broth: Use chicken bone broth.
Add other vegetables: I like to add diced vegetables, such as carrots, celery, or potatoes.
Use a different type of bean: If you can’t find dried navy beans, you can also use Great Northern beans, pinto beans, or cannellini beans.
Use Ham hock, meaty ham bone, ham shank, or leftover ham: This will add flavor and depth of flavor to your beans. If you don’t have any ham on hand, you can also use a smoked turkey leg or some slices of bacon.
Creamy: For a richer broth, add a 1/2 cup of heavy cream when finished cooking the soup.
Spicy Kick: Add a diced jalapeno or a pinch of red pepper flakes.

If you enjoy bean soups, you can also make a hearty soup similar to my 16 Bean Soup: Easy Crock Pot Recipe.

Two containers filled with cooked navy beans sit on a yellow and white checkered cloth. One container has a yellow label with "Navy Beans" written on it, dated 9/23. The beans are immersed in their cooking liquid, visible through the clear plastic containers.

Biblical Hospitality

Serving a meal to guests doesn’t have to be expensive to taste amazing. This simple recipe, using dried beans and a leftover ham bone, reminds me of the story of the loaves and fishes, where God multiplies the little we bring. Just as Jesus took a few loaves and fish and fed thousands, so too can a simple pot of beans be a feast when blessed by a willing heart to share hospitality. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, ESV). No matter how modest, our tables become places where God’s provision and presence are celebrated.

Do you have a question about this navy bean soup crockpot recipe? Feel free to ask in the comments below. I’d love to help. If you’ve made this, let me know how it turned out and who you shared it with.

🫘 If you are a bean lover, then be sure to try my Easy Seasoned Tender Crock Pot Pinto Beans (Vegetarian), Vegan White Bean Chili, Slow Cooker Bacon and Bourbon Baked Beans Recipe, or my family favorite, The Best Homemade Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans Recipe.

Navy Bean Soup, Crock Pot Recipe

Hearty Navy Beans The Easy Way

Ingredient Tips

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Do I need to soften the beans before cooking?