Healthy ham and barley soup is the perfect way to use up leftover ham from Easter Sunday. Do you have a thick ham bone that must be good for something other than a chew toy for the dog? Feeling like something healthy after all that Easter candy? If you answered yes, then this recipe is for you! Packed with flavor and loaded with vegetables, it’s an easy and budget-friendly way to whip up a delicious dinner or prep lunches for the week.
If you’re using leftover ham chunks and canned broth, feel free to skip the first step.
Why This Healthy Ham and Barley Soup Is a Must-Try
Healthy ham and barley soup is the best way to turn leftover holiday ham into a cozy, wholesome meal. Filled with tender veggies, hearty barley, and savory ham, it’s comforting, filling, and good for you. Perfect for dinner or prepped lunches, this recipe is as easy as it is delicious.
Step 1: Prepare the Ham Bone Broth
Start by putting the ham bone into a large pot. Cover the bone with chicken broth, vegetable broth, or water and heat it to boiling. I used a combination of chicken broth and water because I wanted the depth of flavor from the broth, but I didn’t want it to be overly salty. You could also use reduced-sodium chicken broth.
Once the broth is boiling, let the ham bone simmer in the liquid for about 30 minutes or until the meat starts to fall off the bone. Gently scrape the meat from the bone into the liquid and remove the bone. Turn off the heat and let this sit for a while.
Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables
On a cutting board, dice a cup of each: onions, celery, and carrots. I think I used 2-3 stalks of celery and carrots to measure about a cup. Heat a tablespoon of light olive oil in a large pot and sauté the vegetables until they are tender. This will probably take about 5-7 minutes. Stir in a tablespoon of minced garlic, a teaspoon of Kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper. Stir this for about a minute more.
If you want to kick this healthy ham and barley soup up a notch, try adding a tablespoon of Creole or Cajun seasoning while sautéing the vegetables.
Step 3: Add the Broth and Barley
Add a 32 oz container of chicken broth to the vegetables and heat it until it boils. If you made a broth from your ham bone like I did, transfer your broth with any chunks of ham in it.
Once the liquid is boiling, add a cup of quick-cooking barley. Make sure it is the quick-cooking barley, or it will not cook completely before your vegetables begin to disintegrate. Did you know that barley is a whole grain and responsible for reducing blood pressure issues, reducing the odds of cancer, and keeping your heart healthy? It also helps build and maintain bone structure. Barley also helps reduce inflammation and keeps you full longer because it has lots of fiber. Just an FYI: I always like to know what I’m eating. 🙂
Stir the ham and barley soup and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the barley is tender.
Step 4: Add Spinach and Extra Ham
Add in an 8 oz package of fresh spinach and a cup of diced ham. I threw in all the ham leftovers I had, so it was a little more than a cup. But measurements in soup are really flexible, so this just made for an extra chunky healthy ham and barley soup. Stir it until the spinach wilts and the ham is heated through. This step will probably only take a minute or two.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy the Healthy Ham and Barley Soup
While the healthy ham and barley soup is still warm, ladle it into wide-rimmed bowls. Top with a sprinkling of fresh parsley or even bacon bits if you have them.
I love this recipe because it is a hearty soup that is healthy at the same time. I don’t feel guilty going back for seconds, and I feel proud about not wasting leftover ham from the holiday.
My husband liked this healthy ham and barley soup so much that he took it to work the next day and ate it cold for lunch. Why he doesn’t take the extra 2 minutes to walk to the microwave and heat his lunch, I have no idea. It must be a man thing. But that he liked it enough to take it for lunch a second day tells me that this ham and barley soup recipe is a keeper in our house.
Explore More Leftover Ham Recipes
If you’re thinking of trying this healthy ham and barley soup, save this picture to Pinterest or share it on Facebook using the social media icons below. And if you want to check out other ways to use up leftover ham, you may want to check out how to make ham and pineapple pinwheels or ham and cannellini bean soup. Happy cooking, y’all!
