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This ham and potato soup is simple, hearty, and healthy with a richly flavored broth! It uses everyday ingredients, and this version has no dairy.
Try my Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup or Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup for other cooking methods.
Why you’ll love it
If you have leftover ham from Christmas or Easter, this potato and ham soup is one of the best ways to use it up! Think of this soup as lighter comfort food that’s still filling and delicious. There’s nothing fancy about it, but it sure tastes satisfying.
This leftover ham soup is bright, perfectly simple, and you don’t need many ingredients to let the ham shine. No cream is necessary for this cozy and comforting soup (although you totally could add some). Prep is effortless, and most of the cooking time is hands off.
What you’ll need
- Carrot, celery, garlic, onion – the building blocks to many tasty soups. I recommend sweet (Vidalia) onions.
- Olive oil – for sautéing
- Smoked ham – use leftover ham for that savory, smoky flavor
- Potatoes – I like Russets in soups because they nicely crumble
- Italian seasoning – it’s my go-to all purpose blend of dried herbs that comes in a single jar
- Chicken broth – for deeper savory flavor
Pro tip
You can also buy ham specifically for this recipe, like I often do, if you don’t have leftover baked ham. I like hickory smoked ham from my local grocery store!
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I use this Dutch oven/soup pot.
- Here’s the hand-held potato masher I use to get that rustic texture.
- Store the rest of the onion and garlic in and onion saver and garlic keeper.
How to make ham and potato soup
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
In a soup pot, sauté the onions, carrots, and celery until softened. Stir in the garlic, then add the ham, potatoes, Italian seasoning, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover with the lid slightly open.
Cook until the potatoes are fall-apart tender. Mash some of the potatoes right in the pot to give the soup a little more texture. Serve with salt & pepper as needed. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Substitutions and variations
- You can use a different variety of potatoes if you wish, but I prefer Russets because they fall apart nicely in soups for great texture. Other varieties will be more waxy.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if salt is a concern for you since ham can be fairly salty.
- This is a flexible soup! You can throw in more veggies you have on hand, increase the Italian seasoning for more herby flavor, etc.
What to serve with this soup
- A slice of fresh bread makes it extra comforting. I like French baguette or sourdough.
- For a soup and salad combo, try spring mix and vegetables with my Simple Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing (Dairy-Free) or this homemade Olive Garden Salad Dressing.
Leftovers and storage
- This soup makes fantastic leftovers since the flavors meld even more. Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Reheat over a low heat until warmed through.
- This soup can be frozen for up to 3 months.
More leftover ham recipes
If you made this easy ham and potato soup recipe, leave a star rating and review below! Tag me on Instagram if you’ve made this or another one of my recipes.
Ham and Potato Soup (Dairy-Free)
Ingredients
- 1 large carrot peeled & chopped
- 2 sticks celery chopped finely
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound (approx.) smoked ham cut into small pieces
- 2.5 pounds Russet potatoes peeled & cut into 1″ pieces
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep your celery, carrot, and onion and add them to a large soup pot with the olive oil. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, prep your ham and potatoes (or you can prep them at the start – it's up to you!).
- Stir in the garlic, then add the ham, potatoes, Italian seasoning, chicken broth, and water to the pot. Increase the heat to high and bring it to a gentle boil. Cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar and reduce the heat so it's simmering. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until the potatoes are nice and tender (I like them to easily fall apart).
- Using a potato masher, lightly mash some of the potatoes right in the pot. I like a mix of potato pieces and a bit of mash. Season with salt & pepper and serve immediately. This soup tastes even better the next day!
Notes
- Try the slow cooker version or the Instant Pot version of this recipe.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if salt is a concern for you.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Loved this soup…I kinda combined 2 of your recipes…I used 1 can of white kidney beans and some potatoes everything else was the same…It was delicious will definitely make again… Thanks for the Recipe ♥️
Love that idea!
I needed a quick soup. I saw this and decided to give it a try. Boy am I glad I did. My family LOVED IT. I did add some cream I had on hand which gave it that creamier texture. Made it again a week later. It is now a family favorite.
That’s awesome!! I’m so glad it’s a new favorite, Stephany. 🙂 Thanks for your review!
I LOVE this recipe! Easy, delicious and I share it with anyone looking for a recipe for leftover ham! Great the day of, even better the next day.
Aw, thank you for sharing! Appreciate it, and happy you like the soup. 🙂
Excellent. I did add more herbs and seasonings than the recipe called for. My daughter is the dairy free one, so I added some cheddar to my bowl. Very hearty and filling.
Awesome!! 🙂 Glad it was a hit!
Great recipe and very easy to make. Will go down as one of my favorite soups!
Fantastic!! Thanks for your review!
This was so easy and satisfying. I added a little more Italian seasoning, some paprika and garlic powder. Topped with a little bit of sharp cheddar. Yummm
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it, Rebecca!
Hi.. Can i use celery root instead of sticks.. Thats all i have on hand.. Thanks😊
I think that should be fine! 🙂 Hope you enjoy the soup!
a can of blended small white beans added to this makes it extra creamy without adding dairy!
Excellent!
Really surprisingly tasty , given the very few basic ingredients. This will now be a great addition to the repertoire of, ‘what can I cook with the Christmas ham’ collection. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Excellent! You’re very welcome, Nicky!
Perfect for the leftover ham from a holiday party. I was a bit short on potatoes so I added a can of white beans to thicken it up and some fresh thyme. It was delicious for a cold rainy night. Thanks for the timely post!
Love those additions!! So glad you enjoyed it, Marshall!