Crockpot Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes

Crockpot ham, green beans, and potatoes made with simple ingredients and old-fashioned comfort. This easy slow cooker dinner is cozy, nostalgic, and low-stress.

Some meals take a ton of work.
And then there are meals like crockpot ham, green beans, and potatoes.

This is the hearty dinner that smells like someone’s mom or grandma was home all day. It’s the kind of meal that says, “You did enough today. Sit down.”

No fancy steps. No obscure ingredients. No “meanwhile, reduce the sauce” nonsense. Just toss everything in the slow cooker, put the lid on, and let time and steam handle the rest. This isn’t perfection cooking. This is real-life cooking for the soul. 

If your nervous system needs a break, this dinner understands.

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Why This Recipe Works

• It’s comfort food without effort
• Uses simple, familiar ingredients
• Makes the kitchen smell like home
• Forgiving if you eyeball measurements (we respect that here)
• Leftovers reheat beautifully, maybe even better the next day

This is the kind of slow cooker meal you make when you want dinner to feel like a deep breath.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Nothing fancy. Nothing dramatic. Just good, solid food.

• Ham steak – I prefer using ham steak because it’s meaty, easy to chop, and gives you plenty of bites with actual ham in them.
  If you’re a ham hock person, that’s an even swap. Use what you love.
• Small potatoes – Baby potatoes or chopped potatoes both work. Cut potatoes into bite size pieces.
• Fresh green beans – Trim them up and cut into about 1-inch to 2-inch pieces. No one wants to balance a 6-inch green bean on their spoon.  
• Chicken broth – I make my broth with Better than Bouillon. 
• Onion – One small onion, chopped. It softens, melts into the broth, and makes everything taste like it’s been cooking all day (because it has).
• Garlic – measure with your heart
• Salt and pepper – start light. Adjust at the end. 

That’s it. If your pantry can handle this, you’re already winning.

How to Make Crockpot Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes

This is not a “watch closely” recipe. This is a start it and go live your life recipe.

1. Chop the ham into bite-size pieces. No need to be precise. 
2. Add the potatoes to the crock pot.
3. Layer in the green beans and chopped ham.
4. Sprinkle with garlic, salt, and pepper.
5. Pour in the chicken broth.
6. Cover and cook until everything is tender and smells like comfort.

That’s it. You didn’t miss anything. You don’t need to stir. You don’t need to check it every 20 minutes. Let the slow cooker do its slow cooker thing.

A Little Kitchen Reassurance

• If the potatoes are slightly different sizes, it’s fine.
• If you added extra garlic, excellent choice.
• Add more seasoning, get wild!

This meal doesn’t judge. It just feeds your soul. 

Easy Variations and Add-Ins For Slow Cooker Ham, green beans, and potatoes

This crock pot ham, green beans, and potatoes recipe is meant to meet you where you are. Think of these as small nudges, not rules.

Add a Little Heat

If you like just a hint of warmth in the background:

• Sprinkle in ¼ to ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes before cooking.
  It won’t make it spicy-spicy, just gently awake.

Brighten It Up

For a subtle tang that cuts through the richness:

• Add 1 to 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar at the very end, just before serving.
  It doesn’t make it taste vinegary, it just wakes everything up a bit.

Make It More Savory and Herb-Forward

If you want deeper, old-fashioned flavor:

• Add ½ teaspoon dried sage or thyme
• Or finish with chopped fresh parsley for a clean, fresh note

These herbs pair beautifully with ham and make the kitchen smell like someone knew what they were doing.

Onion Lovers’ Version

If half an onion feels like a suggestion instead of a rule:

• Slice a small onion into long strips instead of chopping it. The pieces soften as they cook but don’t disappear into the broth.
  It melts right into the broth and makes everything even cozier.

Extra Garlicky (Highly Encouraged)

• Add another clove or two of garlic
  No one has ever complained about too much garlic in a slow cooker.

A Little Smokier

If your ham isn’t very smoky:

• Add a pinch of smoked paprika
  It gives that slow-simmered flavor without changing the recipe’s personality.

Make It Brothier

If you like your green beans, ham, and potatoes in the crock pot a little more like a stew:

• Add an extra ½ to 1 cup chicken broth

What to Serve With Crockpot Ham, Green Beans, and Potatoes

Honestly? A bowl and a fork is enough.
But if you’re feeling it:

• Cornbread or Cornbread Pudding
• Biscuits
• A slice of buttered bread

I make my bowl with extra broth, a tablespoon of butter melted, and extra pepper.

If you’re looking for a meatless version, I also have a simple slow cooker green beans and potatoes recipe that works beautifully as a side dish. Or if you are looking for some good tender fresh green beans try my Instant Pot Green Beans.

I also make a killer Brussels Sprout & Green Bean Casserole that uses fresh green beans.

Frequently Asked Questions