Instant Pot Ham Hock and Bean Soup is a hearty classic you can make in your pressure cooker. Great flavor from a smoky ham hock, thyme, garlic, and bay leaves. You don't even have to soak the beans if you don't want to! This pressure cooker ham hock and beans soup recipe is adapted from my mom's.
Instant Pot Ham Hock and Bean Soup
I know there's a month of Summer left, but I'm ready for all of the comfort foods of Fall! Pumpkin everything is already circulating online, so others must be feeling it too. So starts my Instant Pot Soup recipes posts!
Once again, I'm turning to my trusty Instant Pot® to make this Instant Pot Ham Hock and Bean Soup. No need to have a pot boiling on the stove for a few hours, and I didn't start it early enough to use my crock pot.
In the electric pressure cooker this soup only takes about an hour. That includes the warm up and natural release time. Not bad! Just keep in mind that old beans will take longer to cook.
It is almost impossible to tell how old beans are, so just cook the recipe per instructions, leaving yourself a 15 to 25 minute window of time in case you need to add more time.
Also, on a warm day, I'm not heating up my kitchen. I say that all the time, but it is a huge reason why I will choose to make something like this in the Summer!
This pressure cooker ham hock and beans soup is total comfort food, and sure brings back my childhood!
I have over 70 Instant Pot Soup recipes here on the blog. You can use the search bar in the menu area to search, or search all of my Instant Pot soups here: Instant Pot Soups
Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana (Sausage Potato Soup)
Instant Pot Beef Barley Vegetable Soup
Sandy's Instant Pot Beef Stew
Instant Pot Mushroom Soup
Did you make this tasty Instant Pot Beans recipe? Please leave a comment with a star rating below. I'd love to know how you like it!
Instant Pot Ham Hock and Bean Soup can be ready in a little over an hour. Cook a tasty ham hock with navy beans and veggies for a delicious and comforting soup.
- 1 ½ lbs Ham Hock or meaty ham bone (I use 1 large ham hock)
- 1 lb Navy Beans* (dry, or soaked 2 hours)
- 6 cups Low Sodium Broth or Water, chicken or pork
- 1 large Yellow Onion, chopped
- 3 ribs Celery, chopped
- 3 Carrots, chopped (larger pieces for firmer veggies)
- 4 Garlic Cloves, finely minced
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme (or ¼ teaspoon dried)
- ⅓ cup Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
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Add all ingredients to the inner liner of the Instant Pot. Stir (Make sure the beans are fully submerged so you don't get any crunchy ones).
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Put the lid on, and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
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Press the Pressure Cook or Manual button or dial, then the +/- button or dial to choose 45 minutes.
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When the cooking cycle ends, turn off the pot and let it sit undisturbed to naturally release pressure for 20 minutes.
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Carefully release the remaining steam manually, using short bursts at first to make sure the soup won't spew out of the steam release knob. When all steam is out of the pot, and the pin in the lid drops, open the lid facing it away from you.
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Serve hot with some nice bread or rolls.
*I soak my beans for 2-4 hours and use 40 minutes cook time for this recipe. If you don't soak your beans, try 45-50 minutes and add more time if you need to.
• Old beans will need more cook time.
David L Barnes
Just finished my second bowl and had plenty for leftovers. I've never put carrots in my navy beans before....but I liked it. I followed your recipe exactly except for I cut the volume in half. Using just one large ham hock, the soup fit my 3 qt. IP perfectly, up to the max. line. I wished IP recipes all stated what size pot the recipe is planned for. I assume the 6 qt. pot? Thanks for a great meal 🙂 and I see other recipes here that I will be trying. Oh... btw, the ham hock was frozen, beans soaked only an hour (impatient) and cooked 45 min. on high w/20 min.NR... PERFECT!
Sandy
Hi David, thank you for your detailed review! I'm so glad you liked this recipe, and the carrots! Most recipes for electric pressure cookers are geared towards the 6 qt as that was the first size they made. I will always say if it is for a different size pot.
Shyanne
I followed the recipe but for some reason it tasted off. I can’t figure out what I did wrong or what I don’t like about it. It has an unpleasant odor and smell. I made a creamy tortellini soup that had the same smell and taste in my slow cooker. Any ideas on what could be causing this?
Sandy
I have no idea. Could it be the dried thyme? Not everyone likes it. The ham hocks have a smoked meat smell, maybe that? How did it taste?
Heather
Hi - I have pork hocks but they are not smoked. Should I add some liquid smoke? How much & when? Or do you have another suggestion?
Sandy
Hi Heather, Yes, I would start with 1/2 tsp of the liquid smoke and see how you like it. You can add more if you want.
Felicia Lisa
Well... THANK YOU for sharing. I'm now following you on Pinterest AND Facebook (YAY)! I've also shared this recipe with my cooking websites!! I just stumbled onto your recipe on a web search - I am A FAN NOW let me tell you!! Can't wait to try more of your culinary creations!! ?
Sandy
That is so nice! Thank you. If you ever have questions please ask!
Felicia Lisa B
This is V-E-R-Y VERY GOOD! My hubby's an old farm raised kid and he knows good beans. He declared this his NEW FAVORITE BEANS ON EARTH. We won't let my mom hear that!... LOL. The only things I changed was after the cooking & NPR times were up I put the IP on sauté' (low - uncovered) for about 20 min to cook it down just a little. I then put 1 pkg of "Nature's Earthly Choice SEVEN GRAIN organic grain blend" into it. I would imagine this will freeze well too! However... there is NONE LEFT to freeze.
Sandy
Hi Felicia! I'm so happy to know that your hubby and you like this soup so much! My mom would have loved knowing this. Thank you for your review!
Andrea Harris
This was a huge hit! I doubled the recipe and cooked it for approximately 1 hr 15 min. Super yummy!!!! My family (and guests) have requested I make it again soon!! Thanks so much for a simple and delicious recipe!! Can't wait to try more of your dishes!!
Sandy
That's awesome! Thank you!
Lynnette
Hi Sandy
I would like to try your recipe; as my sister has taken a bad tumble; and isn't healing very well; I would like to make her some soup for easy meals for her! Can this soup be easily frozen and taken out when she needs a quick meal?
Sandy
Hi Lynnette, I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. She's lucky to have you to help her! This soup can be frozen and it heats up very well. You might want to make her some bone broth and add it to other dishes that require broth, or she can drink it by the mugful. It is so good!