Slow Cooker Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes

 

🥔 Slow Cooker Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes: A Comforting One-Pot Classic

When it comes to heartwarming comfort food, few dishes hit the spot quite like Slow Cooker Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes. It’s the kind of meal that brings back memories of grandma’s kitchen — savory, simple, and filled with the aroma of slow-cooked goodness.

This Southern-inspired classic combines tender green beans, hearty potatoes, and smoky ham into one wholesome dish that practically cooks itself. Whether it’s a cozy family dinner or a hearty Sunday lunch, this recipe will fill your home with warmth and your belly with joy.

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🍲 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

✅ Effortless prep: Just toss everything into your slow cooker — no babysitting required.
✅ Budget-friendly: Uses simple, affordable ingredients.
✅ Full of flavor: The ham infuses the vegetables with rich, smoky goodness as it cooks.
✅ Perfect for leftovers: Tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen.

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🧄 Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1 ½ to 2 pounds smoked ham hock or diced ham

• 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed (frozen works, too)

• 6–8 small potatoes, halved or quartered (Yukon Gold or red potatoes work best)

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced

• 4 cups chicken broth (or enough to cover ingredients)

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste — ham is naturally salty)

• Optional: A dash of crushed red pepper flakes for mild heat

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🕒 Instructions

1️⃣ Layer Your Ingredients

Place the ham at the bottom of your slow cooker — this allows the flavor to distribute evenly.
Add the onion, potatoes, and green beans on top. Sprinkle in the garlic, pepper, and salt.

2️⃣ Add Broth

Pour in enough chicken broth to just cover the ingredients. This ensures everything stays moist and flavorful.

3️⃣ Slow Cook to Perfection

• Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the potatoes and green beans are tender.

• Stir occasionally if possible, to mix the flavors.

4️⃣ Taste and Adjust

Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If you used a particularly salty ham, you may not need extra salt.

5️⃣ Serve and Enjoy!

Ladle generous portions into bowls and enjoy as a complete meal. It pairs beautifully with cornbread or biscuits on the side.

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🍽️ Tips for Best Results

• Use smoked ham hocks for the deepest flavor — they infuse the broth with rich, smoky notes.

• Don’t over-salt early — let the ham’s natural salt season the dish as it cooks.

• Add carrots or corn for extra color and sweetness.

• For a thicker broth, mash a few potatoes at the end and stir them back in.

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💚 Why It Works So Well

Slow cooking allows the flavors to meld beautifully — the potatoes absorb the smoky ham broth, while the green beans become tender and flavorful. It’s rustic, hearty, and comforting — everything a good home-cooked meal should be.

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🌟 Final Thoughts

Slow Cooker Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes is proof that you don’t need fancy ingredients to make something special. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, it’s the perfect family-friendly recipe for busy days or lazy weekends.