Variations & Tips
If you want to keep the spirit of the 3-ingredient recipe but tweak it a bit, you have options. For extra creaminess, use 7 cups of water and 1 cup of milk or cream in place of one cup of the water, adding the dairy during the last hour of cooking so it doesn’t curdle. You can also swap great northern beans for navy beans or cannellini beans if that’s what you have in the pantry. If your ham is very lean, consider using a ham hock or smoked shank instead of (or in addition to) a ham bone to deepen the flavor and richness of the broth. To stretch the soup even further for a tight budget, serve it over cooked rice or with plenty of bread; you’ll get more meals without adding more ingredients. For meal prep, cook a batch on Sunday, let it cool, then portion into airtight containers for lunches—this soup thickens as it chills and reheats beautifully on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of water to loosen it. If you prefer a smoother texture, use a potato masher to gently mash more of the beans right in the slow cooker until the broth is as thick and creamy as you like.
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