Make these Creamy Great Northern Beans and Ham in about 30 minutes! We've taken this old-fashioned ham and beans recipe and given it a modern upgrade—because it's 2025, and who has time to soak dry beans and babysit ham shanks all day? Are you with me?! I'm all about getting dinner on the table fast, without the hassle. The best part? No flavor sacrificed!
These creamy northern beans and ham are a classic diner favorite from way back. And let’s be honest—they’re best enjoyed with a big ol’ chunk of cornbread and a tall glass of iced tea.
To shorten the cook time of this ham and great northern beans recipe, we’ve made a few tweaks. And I’m totally okay with that. This isn’t a holiday meal, so I’m not spending all day in the kitchen. I mean, they’re good, but not all-day-in-the-kitchen good!
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Ingredient Photo
See recipe card for exact amounts.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Made with just a handful of simple ingredients this dish is sure to be loved by the whole family.
- Diced Ham: I look for smoked ham to get that classic smoky flavor that makes ham and beans so good. Leftover ham or a ham steak work great.
- Tender White Beans: As the name suggests, I use great northern beans, but feel free to sub cannellini beans or navy beans. And hey, pinto beans and ham are a thing, so you could totally use those if you want!
- Chicken Broth: I go for low-sodium chicken broth. Got extra time? Homemade chicken stock works too.
- Onion: A trusty yellow onion does the trick, but a white onion works just as well.
- Butter: The onions and ham get cooked in butter first, so the butter soaks up all that flavor before we add the broth. You can use canola, vegetable, or olive oil... but let’s be real, everything tastes better with butter!
- Flour: Helps thicken the creamy broth so people will think we spent all day making this. 😉
- Seasoning: A simple mix of a little salt, black pepper, and garlic gives it that perfect depth of flavor.
Step-By-Step Instructions (with photos)
Melt the butter in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ham, onion, and garlic and cook 2-3 minutes to render some of the fat from the ham into the butter.
Sprinkle with the flour, stir, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, turn up the heat to medium-high, and continue stirring until the flour mixture is fully dissolved into the broth.
Mash about a cup of beans in a bowl with a fork or potato masher.
Add all of the beans to the pot, season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
What to serve with ham and beans
- Bread - Cornbread, crusty bread like sourdough or ciabatta, garlic bread, buttermilk biscuits, cheesy biscuits, yeast rolls, hush puppies or simple buttered toast.
- Vegetables - Green beans, collard greens, spinach, roasted brussels sprouts, sautéd cabbage, carrots or corn.
- Salad - Green salad, cole slaw, cucumber salad, Caesar salad, three bean salad, or tomato and onion salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Absolutely! Allow to cool completely before freezing in an airtight container, or freezer bag, for up to 3 month. For best results, thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
These reheat well in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until heated through. You can also warm them on the stovetop in a saucepan over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.
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Creamy Great Northern Beans and Ham Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 lb ham
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 4 cans great northern beans rinsed and drained
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Chop the ham and onion.
- Melt the butter in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ham, onion, and garlic and cook 2-3 minutes to render some of the fat from the ham into the butter.
- Sprinkle with the flour, stir, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth, turn up the heat to medium-high, and continue stirring until the flour mixture is fully dissolved into the broth.
- Mash about a cup of beans in a bowl with a fork or potato masher, then add them to the pot along with the remaining whole beans, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Tips for success
Why do you include metric measurements?
While the U.S. still mostly uses cups and tablespoons, the rest of the world uses metric. I include both to make my recipes easier for everyone—no conversions needed! The metric amounts are calculated automatically and work great for everyday cooking. Since these recipes aren’t for baking (where exact weights really matter), a few grams one way or the other won’t hurt a thing.Just toggle to the metric version to view the measurements in grams, milliliters, and more!
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