Slow-Cooker Navy Beans Recipe With Ham

This easy navy beans recipe slow cooks navy beans seasoned with smoky ham into a rich, creamy pot of beans. A hearty meal on a cold winter day!

Navy beans are one of our favorite winter times meals. This southern recipe is just like my mama used to make, with a smoky ham simmered for hours until the beans are thick and creamy.

If you’re looking for an effortless meal, here’s a simple classic southern navy beans recipe to enjoy on a cold winter evening. It’s hearty and easy to make; your whole family will love them! 

What Are Navy Beans?

Navy beans are one of 13,000 species of legumes with an edible pod closely related to Great Northern Beans and Cannellini Beans. Navy beans are known by various other names, like, haricot beans, Boston beans, pea beans, and Yankee beans. 

When cooked, navy beans are creamy-white. These pea-sized beans have a mild flavor and a dense and smooth texture. 

Navy beans have been a staple food for the U.S. Navy since the mid-1800s. The beans can be found in most supermarkets in dried and canned forms.

Health Benefits of Navy Beans

Like most other beans, navy beans are good for you. They are a good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber. In addition to lowering cholesterol, navy beans’ high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal. These beans are a good choice for those with diabetes, insulin resistance, or hypoglycemia. Navy beans are an excellent source of folate and manganese and a good source of protein and vitamin B1 as well as the minerals phosphorus, copper, magnesium, and iron. (Learn more HERE)

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Recipe

This recipe uses a simple and minimal amount of ingredients. It’s pretty amazing how much flavor comes out of the navy beans. You can find detailed measurements in the recipe card below.

• Navy Beans: you’ll need 1 pound of dried navy beans. Dried beans should be cream-colored and plump with smooth skin with no wrinkles. 
• Seasoning Meat:   Any other variety of cured pork products such as ham hock, ham bone, or ham chunks. I always see a variety of cured meats when looking for seasoning meat. A leftover ham bone from a holiday meal works great too!
• Seasoning: This recipe has no fancy herbs or seasonings, just salt, and black pepper to taste. 

Soaking Dried Navy Beans

If you do not soak the dried beans, be prepared to cook them longer. Soaking navy beans in water overnight helps make them soft and shortens the cooking time. Use the following steps to soak your beans before cooking. 

1. Rinse the beans under cool, running water and remove any shriveled or unappetizing-looking beans.
2. Transfer the beans to a bowl and cover them with several inches of clean cold water. Let sit for 4-12 hours or overnight, but no longer than 24 hours.
3. Drain before cooking. 

How To Quick-Soak Navy Beans

If you are short on time but still want your beans to cook faster or forget to soak them, use the following quick-soak method for your navy beans before cooking them. Get the full step-by-step directions in the recipe card below.

1. In a large pot, cover beans with unsalted water. Bring the pot to a boil over medium-high for 5 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat and cover the pot with a lid.
3. Allow the beans to stand covered for 1 hour.
4. Drain the water from the beans and cook them according to the recipe.

How To Make Slow-Cooker Navy Beans Recipe

A crock-pot makes this recipe super easy to make, and best of all, you don’t even have to be home!

1. Soak: put the beans in water at night before bed.
2. Cook: Add all of the ingredients to a slow cooker. Pour enough water over the beans and ham to cover them with about 2 inches of water Set the crock-pot to cook low for 6-8 hours.
3. Taste: When the beans finish cooking, spoon up a sample and taste them. This is the time to add salt and pepper to suit your taste.
4. Serve: Divide the beans into serving bowls, with some of the ham, if desired.

Stove Top Directions

If you prefer to cook the navy beans on the stovetop, use the following method.

1. Bring the ham to a boil over high heat in a large pot. Reduce the heat and allow the ham to simmer for about 30 minutes.
2. Add the soaked and drained beans to the pot with the ham.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce to medium heat and boil for 90 minutes.

Storage

Store cooked navy beans covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or sealed inside a zip-top freezer bag in the freezer for up to 6 months. 

Tips

• Cured meat is pretty salty, so it’s best to season the navy beans after they have cooked. They may not need any seasoning; it depends on the seasoning meat you use.
• If this is your first time cooking beans or if you are unfamiliar with your crock-pot or this type of bean, begin checking the beans after 5 hours and then every 30 minutes until they are cooked to your liking. Beans generally finish cooking in 6 to 8 hours.
• To make the beans creamier, cook them longer or remove half of the beans from the pot and mash them with a potato masher. 

Recipe FAQs

What To Serve With Navy Beans

You may think it is strange, but I love ketchup on my beans. David thinks it’s odd. It gives them a vinegar twang. I was brought up on Navy Beans. I rarely serve anything else with navy beans. 

However, if you’d like something else to go with the beans, I recommend the following side dishes:

• SAUTEED KALE WITH SPRING ONION VINEGAR
• CRUSTY BREAD
• QUICK COLLARD GREENS
• CORNBREAD

Making this navy bean recipe? We’d love your feedback. Leave us a comment and a star rating below. We value your opinion and appreciate your time.

See ya on the mountain!

The original recipe first appeared on The Mountain Kitchen on 1/25/14 and was updated on 10/18/22.