This healthy ham and potato soup is pure comfort food in a bowl. Easy, fast, and low-calorie, it’s one of my favorite busy weeknight meals.
The photos in this post have been updated. Don’t worry. You’re in the right place. 😉
Have you seen that Campbell’s soup commercial with the sick guy lying on his couch trying to get his partner to make him soup?
He tells her that his mom always used to make some for him when he wasn’t feeling well, and for a moment, it looks like she’s going to do it, but instead she just throws a phone at him, tells him to call him mom, and leaves him to wallow.
I laugh SO hard, every single time I see that commercial, and I have no idea why, because I’m totally that person who makes soup for sick people. Feeling sick? Here, let me bring you some soup. And if I’m bringing soup, I’m probably bringing this one.
Like my Peasant Chicken Soup, this surprisingly healthy Ham and Potato Soup is another of the early recipes I learned in college. It saw me and my friends through many an illness and late-night study session.
It’s perfect for what ails you because it’s pure comfort food. Ham and potatoes in a bowl? That’s like a hug from the inside.
And the nice thing about this soup is that it’s deceptively easy. Sure it looks gorgeous and complicated, but once you cut the veggies and put them on to boil, all you really have to do is make the roux, stir in the milk, and watch the broth go from clear to creamy and delicious.
Throwing this together for a sick friend or a busy weeknight dinner takes all of a half hour, and when you’re done, the result is the best damn healthy ham and potato soup you’ve ever tried.
Looking for more Easy Weeknight Meals? Try my Tri-tip in the Oven, No-Fuss Beef Ribs, and Broccoli Chowder.
Easy and Comforting Ham and Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups (about 2 large) russet potatoes, peeled and diced medium
- 1 1/2 cups (9oz) cooked honey ham, diced medium*
- 1/2 cup celery diced small
- 1/2 cup onion diced small
- 4 cups (2 15oz cans) chicken broth
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon (44g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk, (any percentage)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt
Instructions
Boil
- In a large pot, combine potatoes, ham, celery, onions, and chicken broth. Bring to a low boil and cook over medium heat until vegetables are fork-tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Make the roux
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and whisk in flour. Cook, stirring constantly until flour is golden, about one minute. Slowly add in milk, continuing to stir so that no lumps form and cook until mixture is thick, about 5 minutes.
Combine
- Pour flour and milk mixture into the soup and stir. Add pepper, and salt to taste.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutritional Information
Recipe Adapted From: Allrecipes
Small Batch Instructions: This recipe halves cleanly.
Make-ahead Instructions: Ham, onions, and celery can be cut up to two days in advance. Potatoes should be cut just before cooking to avoid browning.
Freezer Notes: You can freeze this soup–it will keep up to 4 months in the freezer, but I was not a huge fan of the texture of the potatoes once my test batch defrosted. I probably wouldn’t freeze this soup again.
Circa early 2016 photo:
Colleen says
Best potato soup I ever had!! I make it all the time!!
Tracy says
Thanks, Colleen!! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the recipe!
Reita Beck says
Wow – This is the best Potato and Ham Soup!!! Easy to make and the flavor is awesome!! Thank you! This is a keeper!!! Reita
Tracy says
Thank you, Reita!!
Chelsea says
Really impressed with this soup! My stepdad made a ham for New Year’s and it was a huge ham! So I got left overs too. I didn’t change a thing about this recipe and I’m very happy with how it turned out. I did use 1/2 c half and half and 2 1/2 c almond milk.
Nikki Englerth says
This soup was delicious! It turned out thick and creamy. I added fresh green beans because I had them and 1 cup of shredded cheddar jack cheese. This recipe is a keeper….thank you!
Tracy says
Oooo, cheddar jack sounds like such a good addition!!
Veda says
This recipe was so easy & so delicious! I was looking for something to make with leftover ham & didn’t want the usual ham bone soup when I saw this. Omg, I’m so glad I did! I doubled the recipe to have leftovers. I also substituted peppered gravy (2 packs) for the butter & flour & I’m sure it didn’t make a difference. Even if it did my husband loved it! Thank you for a great, easy recipe!
Peggy says
I live in Florida where it is seldom cool enough to warrant a warm bowl of soup! I make it anyway and this was delicious! I took some of the comments to heart regarding the soup being too watery. I cut the chicken broth down to 3 cups. I monitored the pot to be certain the veggies were not boiling dry. I also added an extra tablespoon of flour when I made the roux and cooked it until almost the consistency of mayonnaise! Soup was perfect for us!
Tracy says
Thanks for the detailed comment! So glad the soup worked out for you!!
Jamie says
This left a lot to be desired. Very bland as written-I had to make a lot of adjustments.
Tracy says
Bummer to hear you didn’t enjoy it, Jamie!
Sarah says
My husband LOVED this soup! I added 1.5-2 cups of cheese to the thickened milk mixture, making a cheese sauce before adding it to the rest of the soup. It was perfect!
Zarah says
Made this for dinner tonight. It was quick and easy. We loved it. Will definitely make again.
Kimber says
Thank you so much!
Caitlin says
I loved how this turned out! I did add some seasonings such as garlic powder and onion powder and I added half a can of corn. This was so yummy!!!
Tracy says
Glad you enjoyed it, Caitlin!!
Sep says
This recipe is a new favorite in my house. I add a few extra veggies to it and it is so good.
Tracy says
So happy to hear it!!
Jean says
Made this and its amazing!!! But we noticed it tasted almost like clam chowder which we adore. We have made this 3 times this week. But we had two crock pots going one with ham and one with clams! So good thank you thank you even my kids love it!
Mel says
We loved this soup! I always make a recipe the way it is written and then change things if we feel it needs it. This soup is perfect just the way it is! I’ll make it again, just this way! Thank you very much for an easy, delicious recipe!
Lucia says
Wow is the only way to describe this recipe. Just made it and Wow!!!
My husband had two bowls already.
Thank you ever so much for sharing your recipe.
Tracy says
I’m so happy you and your husband enjoyed it!!
Kristi Karcher says
I love this soup so much! It’s easy and delicious. Thank you!!