Senate Bean Soup (Slow Cooker)

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Senate Bean Soup — also known as Navy Bean Soup — is a beloved American recipe chock full of hearty navy beans, mashed potatoes, and a delicious and tender hambone. My goodness, it’s a tasty and comforting meal for chilly winter nights. Even better, this soup is easy to make and uses simple ingredients! 

This classic senate bean soup is only served at the Senate cafeteria of the Dirksen Senate Building. So, to experience this delicious recipe, you only have two options — take a road trip to the Nation’s Capital or make the soup at home!

Suppose you want the entire experience and nostalgia of eating this traditional recipe in the same room people have enjoyed for decades. In that case, you’ll want to pack your bags for Washington, DC.

Seeing how January is National Slow Cooking Month, could there ever be a better time to make senate bean soup? It is just as delicious at home!

If you’re craving more savory steaming winter soups to make in the slow cooker, check out this copycat Outback Potato Soup and these easy Slow Cooker Pinto Beans.

Ingredient notes

• Navy Beans | For perfectly tender beans, start with dried navy beans.
• Water | Water is the base of the simple soup recipe. You’ll use it to soak the navy beans, then add it to the soup to make it fluid. 
• Hambone | Hambones are delicious ingredients for soup. Use a leftover hambone from the recent holidays, or grab one at the store.

• Onion | Diced onion brings a deeper flavor to the recipe and complements the ham taste. You may use a yellow or white onion.
• Garlic | Freshly minced garlic adds a subtle savory spice to the senate bean soup. Try swapping the fresh garlic cloves for garlic powder if you’re in a pinch.
• Celery | Celery brings earthy and slightly bitter notes to the soup, expanding and enhancing the taste.
• Potatoes | Cook and mash a couple of potatoes to thicken the soup and add texture. If desired, use dry potato flakes instead.

Equipment needed

• Slow Cooker

How to make the classic American Senate Bean Soup

Senate Bean Soup is easy to make and uses simple ingredients. It’s a great busy weeknight meal, perfect for cooking during the day as you work from home, care for the children, or complete some chores.

STEP 1 | Soak the beans

This soup recipe requires a little prep before diving into the rest of the recipe. Begin the night before by simply adding the dried beans to a large bowl.

Next, cover them with cool water and allow the beans to soak through the night. That way, they are soft and ready to use in the morning!  

STEP 2 | Place the hambone and beans in the slow cooker

The following day, set out the slow cooker and nestle the hambone in the center. Then, pour the beans into the pot. Also, add enough soaking liquid to cover the beans by about 2 inches.

STEP 3 | Add the veggies and cook

Chop up the spicy garlic, crunchy onion, and crisp celery. Toss the ingredients into the slow cooker and stir until they are evenly incorporated with the beans and hambone.

Next, cover with the lid and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours until the beans are nice and tender. At the last hour or so of cooking, wash, bake, and mash the potatoes to add later.

STEP 4 | Chop the ham

Now, remove the hambone and place it on a plate or cutting board. Carefully pull the meat from the bone, and chop it coarsely.

If you’re using your fingers to tear the meat from the bone, you may need to wait just a few minutes until the ham is cool enough to handle.

STEP 5 | Mix all the ingredients and season to taste!

Finally, stir the chopped ham and add the cooked mashed potatoes into the soup. Taste and season with salt and pepper, and it’s ready to serve!

Variations and substitutions

• If necessary, Great Northern beans or white kidney beans work well as substitutes.
• If you want to boost the flavor, try adding bay leaves, parsley, carrots, or peas.
• For a spicier soup recipe, sprinkle cayenne pepper or add jalapenos. 

Storage and reheating tips

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 to 5 days.
• To reheat, warm on the stove until steamy or in the microwave. If needed, add a splash of water to thin leftover soup.

Frequently asked questions

What to serve with Navy Bean Soup

For Senate Bean Soup, saltine crackers are classic. However, this recipe is also delicious with a fresh salad — like my Chicken Kale Caesar Salad or Broccoli Salad — or homemade bread.

Try this easy Peppery Cheese Quick Bread or these traditional Homemade Dinner Rolls, perfect for dipping into the tasty bean soup!

Beyond the recipe

Beginning in the early 20th century, the cafe at the U.S. senate has served Senate Bean Soup every single day! There aren’t many restaurants where you can still order this favorite dish from years ago.

Today, this traditional menu item remains the most popular item sold at the cafeteria. Now, that’s impressive!

There are a couple of stories of how this recipe has made it in every congressional dining room for over 100 years. The tale that seems to be the most common is as follows:

On a particularly warm day in 1904, Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon visited the cafeteria with his mind set on enjoying a cozy bowl of bean soup, regardless of the toasty weather.

He was very upset when he was informed that they were not serving the soup that day. So, from this day on, senate bean soup was served each day without fail to please the request of Cannon.