This ham and lentil soup is comforting, healthy, and just the ticket when the cold weather appears!
This soup is almost too easy to make! Simply place the ingredients in the slow cooker and come home to a ready meal.
It’s the ultimate in savory, cold-weather soup recipes and the perfect way to use up a ham bone. Serve it with thick slices of crusty buttered bread!
Savory Soup in the Slow Cooker
Lentils were an item many of you had in your pantry in 2020 when groceries were scarce so we created some recipes by request (like sloppy joes and shepherd’s pie!). Since then, I’ve always got them stocked in my pantry!
- Crazy easy to make, this soup almost cooks itself.
- Slow-cooked lentils, veggies, and ham develop deep, rich flavors as they blend together.
- This soup tastes even better the next day! It’s great for leftovers.
- Perfect for batch cooking! Double the recipe and save one for dinners and lunches all week long!
- On a budget? This wholesome, savory soup is ideal for big families, big gatherings, and big appetites! Let everyone serve themselves from the Crock Pot with a hunk of crusty bread or dinner rolls!
Ingredients for Ham & Lentil Soup
Lentils – Lentils cook easily and are an easy win in this recipe. Split peas can be used in addition to (or in place of!) lentils. Brown lentils are easily available and are the type we’ve used in this recipe.
Veggies – Onions, carrots, and celery add flavor to this ham and lentil soup recipe. Toss in some corn, peas, diced potatoes, or a bag of frozen vegetable medley to bulk up the soup and stretch it even further!
Ham – A leftover ham bone from your holiday ham is perfect in this recipe. If you don’t have a hambone, use 2 cups of leftover diced ham. Cooked and crumbled bacon pieces or even frozen meatballs can be used instead of ham. Or, use whatever leftover meat is on hand!
How to Make Ham and Lentil Soup
It’s so easy to make this nourishing soup.
- Saute onion in butter until softened.
- Add onion & remaining ingredients (except parsley) to the crockpot & cook (per recipe below).
- Remove the bay leaf & ham bone (if using). Remove meat from the bone and add it back to the soup.
- Stir in parsley, season to taste, & serve.
Storing Leftover Soup
Keep leftover Crock Pot ham and lentil soup covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop.
Freeze soup in zippered bags for up to 8 weeks. Thaw on the stovetop on medium heat or in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Hooray for Ham!
Did you make this Crock Pot Ham and Lentil Soup? Leave a rating and a comment below!
Crock Pot Ham and Lentil Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons butter
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 2 large carrots diced
- 1 ½ cups dried green or brown lentils
- 6 cups chicken broth*
- 15 ounces petite diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 meaty ham bone or 2 cups leftover ham
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Heat butter over medium heat in a small skillet and add onion. Cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
- Combine all ingredients except parsley in a 6qt slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low 7-8 hours.
- Discard bay leaf. Remove the ham bone if using and pick off any bits of ham. Add the ham to the soup.
- Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Use brown or green lentils for the best results.
Lentils do not need to be pre-soaked. Keep leftover soup covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. Freeze soup in for up to 8 weeks. Thaw on the stovetop on medium heat or in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner, Lunch, Slow Cooker, Soup
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Great recipe. Healthy, filling and yummy. I added peas and spinach at the bottom of the bowl. I also used the ham bone and added extra ham so it was more meaty! I didn’t use the diced tomatoes because I didn’t have any. It was great!
If using leftover ham, not a bone, does leftover ham go in at the beginning with all other ingredients? Or add at end just to reheat? Thank you.
I prefer to add it in the beginning so it flavors the broth.
can you use the recipe without diced tomatoes?
Sure you can!
can I use split peas in the reciepe instead of lentils
Yes, split peas work well in this soup Geraldine!
This soup looks so delicious. Can’t wait to make it.
How about using already smokked and choped pork shoulder/
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure Ted, but that should be just fine. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
A stalk is a whole package. Versus a rib. So we need three packages of celery?
You will need about ½ cup or so of chopped celery.
Tasty recipe! Will be making this recipe again everyone in the family loved it.
I am so glad your family enjoyed this recipe Barb!
Love your recipes!
Thank you Lori!
Can I use a ham hock in the soup or is it best to cook it first?
A smoked ham hock would work well in this recipe, if you’d like you can ham hock an hour or two before adding the other ingredients.
Very nice recipe chef . I didn’t have ham I made it whith meatballs delicious next time with ham or even smoked one. Thank you for your effort
So glad you loved it!