As winter approaches, it’s time to put your slow cooker to some use. Ham and bean soup is a rich, hearty soup made with ham and beans, along with a variety of vegetables. It’s quite simple to make, and the perfect comforting meal to have on a chilly night. But what makes an ideal accompaniment to have with ham and bean soup? Fortunately, we have outlined a bunch of side dishes that will surely complement the rich textures and flavors of ham and bean soup, promising you and your family, a sensational evening meal.
Table of Contents
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What To Serve With Ham And Bean Soup – 17+ Ham and Bean Soup Accompaniments
- Coconut rice
- Sweet potato fries
- Garlic spaghetti
- Pull apart garlic bread
- Biscuits
- Roasted squash
- Applesauce
- Coleslaw
- Green chile cornbread
- Buttermilk cornbread
- Broccoli salad
- Tomato salad
- Sweet and sour greens
- Turnip greens
- Creamed spinach
- Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Creamed Peas
- How to Make Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
- The Bottom Line of What To Serve With Ham And Bean Soup
- What To Serve With Ham And Bean Soup – FAQs
What To Serve With Ham And Bean Soup – 17+ Ham and Bean Soup Accompaniments
There is no right or wrong way to eat slow cooker ham and bean soup. While you can simply pour yourself a bowl of this magical brew, and enjoy this alone, why not whip up a quick side dish while your soup is cooking, and have a delectable meal ready to enjoy?
Dive into some of these quick, and easy side dishes to go with your steaming pot of ham and bean soup.
- Coconut rice
- Sweet potato fries
- Garlic spaghetti
- Pull apart garlic bread
- Biscuits
- Roasted squash
- Applesauce
- Coleslaw
- Green chile cornbread
- Buttermilk cornbread
- Broccoli salad
- Tomato salad
- Sweet and sour greens
- Turnip greens
- Creamed spinach
- Sautéed brussels sprouts
- Sweet potato casserole
- Creamed peas
Coconut rice
Coconut rice features a combination of tender white rice, coconut milk, and lots of spices. The creamy, nutty flavors of this dish, complement the savory flavors of shepherd’s pie or ham and bean soup.
The spices are a necessary addition, to provide a kick of heat to the dish, making it an ideal option for people who prefer a little spice to their meal.
Top this dish with a dribble of lime juice at the end for a burst of flavor.
Sweet potato fries
Fries pair well with any type of soup, especially ham, and bean soup.
When attempting to bring forth interesting flavors to your meal, sweet potato fries are one of the gorgeous side dish options to consider. With an incredibly crisp interior and mouth-wateringly tender interior, imparting distinct earthy flavors that complement ham and beans beautifully.
Garlic spaghetti
Spaghetti is the ultimate choice for a soupy main dish. It’s super easy to make, and can be prepared in advance, making it the perfect side dish to make without having to spend extra time cooking it.
Garlic spaghetti incorporates the perfect amount of garlic flavor, without overwhelming your taste buds, with a creamy flavorful sauce that is neither thick nor heavy. This will quickly become a household staple, for soups like this one.
It doesn’t take long to prep at all, and should be ready on the table within 30 minutes. You can even make this while your soup is halfway through cooking, so that you have both dishes ready for you to indulge in.
Pull apart garlic bread
If you’re looking for a quick and easy side dish to accompany your hot soup, then this delicious pull apart garlic bread is just what you need.
I love slurping hot soup, with a side of crunchy bread. Especially when you can break off a piece, and dunk it into your soup. The bean soup will soak through the crusty bread, creating a softened morsel for you to devour.
Biscuits
Biscuits are a classic side dish to have alongside ham and bean soup. With a soft, flaky texture that’s perfect for eating alongside a hot soup like this one. The best part about these biscuits is the fact that they’re entirely customizable.
You can add anything you like to the dough, from dried fruits like cranberries or raisins, to chocolate chips. Though you’ll need to adjust the sugar in the recipe so that the biscuit dough doesn’t emerge too sweet.
Alternatively, you could use sour cream instead of milk, which will produce a tangy finish to the biscuit dough, complementing the ham and beans soup beautifully.
Roasted squash
Squash is a fun vegetable to have alongside ham and bean soup.
With just the right amount of sweetness to complement the more savory parts of a main meal. Though it isn’t as sweet as most vegetables like corn or peas.
Roasting the squash provides a softer, tender texture that makes it the perfect choice for those who wish to include a side of vegetables with their stew.
You can choose from orange, green, and yellow squash, or mix up the colors to introduce a pop of color to your bean soup dinner.
Applesauce
For a sweeter side dish to help lighten the load of the rich and hearty soup try some applesauce. The fruity sweetness of the applesauce is a complete contrast to the salty, savory flavors of the ham and beans, making it the perfect addition to your meal.
- To make this you’ll need 8-10 medium sized apples. Peel and core the apples, and place them into a large pot.
- Add strips of lemon peel and lemon juice, followed by sugar, cinnamon, water and salt.
- Heat and boil the apples, then lower the temperature, and cover the pot to simmer for 20 minutes.
- Once the apples are tender remove from the pot, and mash them with a potato masher.
- Adjust the taste with more sugar if needed, then serve with your ham soup for a delicious meal.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is the perfect side dish to have with ham and beans, because of the crisp and creamy shredded vegetables that contrast perfectly with the warm soup.
If you prefer a tangy addition to a hearty soup, opt for a dribble of rice vinegar in place of white vinegar in your coleslaw dressing.
For additional flavor, add thinly sliced red onions to your coleslaw for a raw, punchy taste.
Green chile cornbread
Spicy green chile cornbread pairs beautifully with ham and bean soup. Mainly due to its pleasant spicy sweetness which complements any rich hearty soup. And you can eat it any way you like.
Whether you prefer to munch on a piece of cornbread, after a few spoonfuls of ham and bean soup, or simply crumple the bread into tiny little crumbs, and drop it into the soup to enjoy.
This green chile cornbread features chopped jalapenos, which impart a distinct spiciness to the bread. You can bring the heat down by pairing this cornbread with creamy coleslaw or helping yourself to a scoop of applesauce on your bread.
Buttermilk cornbread
You could opt for a traditional cornbread, but I think this version is tastier. It’s super quick and easy to make, and the inclusion of buttermilk imparts a nice tart flavor.
Buttermilk cornbread is perfect to have alongside ham and bean soup, especially if you’re looking for the ultimate side dish that provides a distinct contrast in both textures and flavor.
Broccoli salad
This version of broccoli salad incredibly satiating and nutritious and will instantly have you salivating. It involves chopping up some broccoli into florets and combining them with some shredded chicken, mayo, and chili flakes.
This is especially great for including any leftover ham and bean soup ingredients.
Tomato salad
A simple refreshing bowl of salad seems like the perfect accompaniment to pair with a pot of hearty soup. You can use whatever vegetables you like, from tomatoes to lettuce and red onions. Add a drizzle of your favorite salad dressing for extra flavor, and you’re good to go!
Sweet and sour greens
It’s always great to incorporate a side of greens to any main dish. They provide an elevated addition to any meal, with a contrast in textures and flavors depending on how you prepared them.
You can add this to salads, sandwiches, soups or even a lovely cheesy, meaty pasta.
This particular side serving of sweet and sour greens is a healthy option, that will definitely complement a bowl of slow-cooked ham and bean soup.
Turnip greens
Turnip greens make the perfect limp accompaniment to any hearty soup like ham and bean. They can be steamed, sautéed, boiled and prepared like spinach.
In this instance, we’re going to opt for steamed turnip greens, simply because their limp, earthy textures, pair perfectly with a hot rich soup like this one.
Wash the greens and set the greens into a basket that is placed in a pot with 2 inches of boiling water. Steam the turnip greens for 4 minutes, then remove and serve with melted butter and lemon wedges.
Creamed spinach
A rich, hearty meal like ham and bean soup will have you entirely satiated. Which is why a light side dish like creamed spinach makes an excellent accompaniment to heavier dishes like these.
Low in calories and high in protein, this creamy addition will have you appreciating your bowl of ham soup even further!
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are commonly avoided, and at certain moments, I had been guilty of shunning these tiny little balls of bitterness too.
However, once they’re prepared correctly, they certainly go down a treat. Sautéed brussels sprouts have a crisp, caramelized exterior, with a firm interior. You can pair this with your ham and bean soup, or a creamy tomato soup.
Top these caramelized veggies with chili powder, chopped walnuts, and anything else to boost their rich flavors.
Don’t be afraid to take a big bite!
Sweet Potato Casserole
A bowl of this scrumptious, and ever-comforting side dish, followed by a bowl of hot ham shank soup makes the perfect evening meal.
Especially on cold winter evenings, wrapped in a warm blanket, feet warming by the heater, while you take small sips of your delicious soups.
Sweet potato casserole makes the best accompaniment when looking for a light savory treat, to complement any meat-based meal.
You can even make this with leftover ham bone and potatoes!
You can also check out grandma’s sweet potato pie as an alternative!
Creamed Peas
For a light, creamy side to have with ham and bean soup, try these delectable creamed peas.
- The simplest way to cook them is to use frozen peas, and boil them in salted water.
- Meanwhile, melt some butter in a saucepan, and whisk in flour, salt and pepper.
- Add whole cream, stirring till thickened.
- Then add your peas, and coat them in the creamy sauce.
You can prepare this with your ham and bean soup, once it’s closer to completion.
How to Make Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
If the idea of soup had you salivating, then take a look at this simply delicious ham and bean soup recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter: This can be substituted for olive oil
- 1 cup each of diced carrots, celery, and onion: These contribute to the delicious aroma and flavor of the soup.
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic: For a mellow, nutty flavor.
- 6 cups chicken broth: I prefer low-sodium chicken broth because the ham hocks can be quite salty, but you can substitute this with regular chicken broth, homemade chicken broth, or vegetable broth if you wish.
- 3 cans of white beans: Use any variety you like, I prefer to use navy beans or cannellini beans.
- Leaves from 2 sprigs of fresh thyme: If you don’t have fresh thyme, simply substitute fresh thyme with 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme.
- 1 ½ lb. smoked ham hock: The best type of ham used in slow-cooker soups, producing an abundance of rich flavors.
- 1 dried bay leaf: A key component in any flavorful broth, as it makes the soup taste impeccable.
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat.
- Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic. Stir until the vegetables are crisp and tender.
- Stir in the chicken broth, beans, thyme leaves, ham hock, and bay leaf. Bring this to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for an hour.
- Discard bay leaf.
- Remove the ham hock, and pull the meat off the bone. Throw the fat away, and cut the ham into bite-sized pieces. Garnish with parsley or thyme before serving.
The Bottom Line of What To Serve With Ham And Bean Soup
Ham and bean soup is a classic dish that many choose to enjoy alone, whilst others prefer a good combination of flavors to make a tasty meal even tastier. With our list of delicious side dishes, you’re all set for a scrumptious dinner.
So what are you waiting for? Get cooking and try these ideas for what to serve with ham and bean soup!
What To Serve With Ham And Bean Soup – FAQs
What Goes Good With Ham and Bean Soup?
Corn bread, potato chips, sweet potato casserole, tomato and lettuce salad, collard greens, garlic bread, coleslaw, butternut squash and more!
What is Soup a Good Side for?
Grilled cheese sandwich, baked stuffed potatoes, boiled rice, wilted spinach salad, and more.
