Navy Bean Soup with Ham

Navy Bean Soup with Ham is a hearty, classic American comfort food, traditionally made with small white navy beans, a meaty ham bone or ham hocks, and simple vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery. It's a staple of home cooking, especially popular in the Midwestern and Southern United States, often associated with using up leftover holiday ham.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This soup is a well-balanced meal, providing a good mix of complex carbohydrates from the beans for energy, and substantial protein from both the beans and the ham. A typical serving is moderately high in fiber and offers key nutrients like iron, potassium, and B vitamins, with a rough calorie range of 250-350 per bowl depending on the ham-to-bean ratio.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	195 kcal
Protein	12.5 g
Carbs	26 g
Fat	4.5 g
Fiber	7.5 g
Sugar	4 g
Sodium	850 mg
Potassium	450 mg
Iron	2.5 mg
Folate	110 mcg
Vitamin B12	0.3 mcg
Zinc	1.8 mg
Magnesium	60 mg
Phosphorus	180 mg
Vitamin B6	0.3 mg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, it's a dish of frugality and tradition, famously served in the U.S. Senate dining room. Nutritionally, the combination of beans and ham creates a complete protein profile, and the slow simmering of the ham bone extracts collagen and minerals, adding depth and nutritional value.