A light and simple soup that packs plenty of flavor.
When you think of ham soup, your taste buds might not leap for joy. But just one spoonful of this hearty, flavor-packed recipe will change all that. With ham, potatoes, and veggies, it’s like taking all the ingredients of a tasty and well-balanced meal and turning it into a soup. It doesn’t require a lot of time and effort and is particularly useful if you have leftover ham from a big meal. That’s usually when I like to put this soup together.
The beauty of this dish is that there are no frills. The simple ingredients are more than enough to pack plenty of flavor and the garlic, thyme, and parsley add a little something extra without overpowering the ham and potatoes. The flavors balance nicely with one another in the pot, which is why I’ve come to think of ham soup as one of my favorite comfort foods.
Is Ham Soup Healthy?
By most standards, this ham soup recipe can be considered healthy, with just 139 calories and 7 grams of fat per bowl. Naturally, the ham gives the soup some protein and you’ll also discover a good dose of vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium in this recipe, too.
Some Added Extras…
When you make soup, there is always room to add more ingredients to the pot. For instance, if you want to add some extra ham, feel free to add it. After all, if you’re making this soup so you can do something useful with leftovers, you might as well use all the leftover ham. I would also suggest adding something like spinach or kale to improve the nutritional value and give the soup more color and texture. Finally, you should never be afraid to season generously and add some of your favorite herbs and spices, even if they aren’t in the recipe. For example, I like adding basil and dried oregano to this soup because I think those seasonings complement the ham and potatoes well.
How to make ahead and store?
Put any leftover soup in an airtight container, where it can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. You can also freeze this soup for up to 3 months. Just thaw thoroughly before reheating on the stovetop until it simmers.
Serving Suggestions
There are plenty of ways to enhance a bowl of soup with a side dish. It can be something as simple as a salad or Air Fryer Biscuits. I think the latter goes particularly well with ham soup. If you prefer a salad, I would opt for a Beet Salad or perhaps a Vegan Caesar Salad. You can also consider adding more vegetables to the meal in a fun way. To do that, I suggest making Zucchini Fritters or Broccoli Bites as a side dish for ham soup.
Of course, this is a rather simple recipe for ham soup. If you want something a little more intricate, I have a few other options for you. First, there is Ham Bone Soup, which requires leftover ham bone and includes beans. If you’re a fan of ham soup and enjoy lentils, you’re going to love this recipe for Ham and Lentil Soup. Finally, this hearty Ham and Potato Soup hits the spot every time.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 3/4 cup diced carrots
- 3/4 cup diced celery
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups diced cooked ham
- 1 cup diced potatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery, and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth, ham, potatoes, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper. Stir in fresh parsley just before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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