There is nothing better than an old fashioned pot of Southern Style white beans and ham served with a piece of buttery cornbread.
I grew up in a house where my mom and dad grew their own food, shot their own meat, fished for dinner and we ate a lot of beans and cornbread growing up.
Fast forward to 26 years of marriage and I am married to a man who loves all those same things, so getting the perfect pot of Southern Style White Beans and ham is important.

This recipe is usually made with a ham bone or ham hock. You can find these for sale in the meat aisle or just ask the butcher if they have any leftovers.

Of course, if you are like me, you save yours from the Christmas ham you had so you can make this delicious pot of beans. You can also make these Everything Bagel Ham and Cheese Sliders.
This budget-friendly meal can feed a family just about all week long. The best part is that it is a low-cost meal that you can make with simple pantry ingredients as well.

How to Make Slow Cooker Southern Style White Beans and Ham
The first thing you need to do for your white beans to turn out like an old southern style grandmas is to soak those beans overnight in the fridge. If you skip this step and go right to cooking your beans, they will not taste all that well.
They will taste like dirt if I am honest. Beans need to be soaked, so in a bowl, add your bag of beans — usually about 16 ounces, and then add 8 cups of water.
Let them soak overnight. In the morning, drain them and then place them in your slow cooker. Cover with water, add your other ingredients and then cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high for 7-8.

Your beans will turn out so tender and so full of flavor. My momma was the best Southern cook on the planet and her beans are the best in this world. I still have not mastered her recipe (who knows — she probably put lard in them because she put lard in everything!)
But these beans are as close to an old Southern mom's recipe as any. If you do not have white beans on hand (Great Northern Beans), then you can use any dried beans you have on hand. They all pretty much cook the same method.
Can I Make This on the Stovetop instead of a slow cooker?
Yes. I made my latest batch on the stovetop in my dutch oven and they turned out amazing.

After soaking the beans overnight, rinse and drain the beans well. In your dutch oven, cover the beans with water. Add the ham bone and bring it to a boil.
Combine the beans, diced onions, granulated garlic, bay leaves, sugar, black pepper, and Cajun seasoning. Then, just cover and simmer for 2 hours until beans are tender.

My momma used to serve her white beans and ham with a side of green onions straight out of the garden and a big slab of this Old Fashioned Skillet Cornbread.

If you are a fan of white beans, then you also need to try my White Chicken Chili. It is amazing.
Slow Cooker Southern Style White Beans and Ham

This classic Southern Style White Beans and ham recipe will be the perfect budget-friendly meal for your family during hard times.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dried Great Northern Beans
- 1 onion diced fine
- 1 ham bone or ham pieces from a leftover ham. You can also use bacon or a ham hock
- 10+ cups of water (fill the crockpot up with water
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 bay leaves (remove before serving the beans)
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
Instructions
- The night before you cook your beans -- cover with water and soak the beans overnight in 8 cups of water – The water should cover the beans about an inch
- After soaking the beans overnight, drain the water and rinse them well.
Add the ham bone, beans, onions, and seasonings to the slow cooker. Cover with water all the way to the top of the slow cooker.
Cook on high 5 hours or on low for 10-12. - If you are cooking your beans in a dutch oven -- Add the water and the ham bone and bring it to a boil.
Combine the beans, onions, and seasonings. - Cover and simmer for 2 hours until beans are tender.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
14Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 105Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 717mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 11g
Karin
Saturday 26th of November 2022
If cooking in a crockpot you failed to mention adding any liquid??
Jennifer Sikora
Saturday 26th of November 2022
You are right! Thanks for catching that. I have fixed it.
Debbie Paulley
Thursday 17th of June 2021
Just wondering how much water do you put in the dutch oven ? Thanks
Jennifer Sikora
Thursday 17th of June 2021
I usually fill it up with water until there are about 2 inches over the beans. Then keep an eye on it. If the water goes down too much, just add more until your beans get cooked to your sastification.
Michele
Wednesday 29th of July 2020
This looks so yummu
Jennifer Sikora
Monday 10th of August 2020
It is! Hubby loves it a lot.