Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup

Teresa Ambra

Gluten Free Living – 2014

Oh, I just love this soup! Ham and Sweet Potato Soup has lots of delicious leftover spiral-cut ham, sweet potatoes, onions, leeks, carrots and celery in a wonderful cheese sauce that’s so satisfying to the taste buds. Soups are becoming my comfort food of choice (second only to salads), and this one in particular is wonderful.

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I started with a family favorite: Canadian Cheese Soup and switched out sweet potatoes for the regular potatoes and added a few other ingredients. This tasty recipe is also gluten free for those on gluten free diets. If you enjoy ham, cheese and sweet potatoes you are sure to be delighted with this amazing soup.

I was pulling some old food containers out of my freezer the other day to clean it out and remembered I’d put some leftover ham in it from a few months back. I was trying to figure out ways to use the ham without a lot of pasta or canned soups when I remembered this great recipe.

After making all the substitutions it turned out as well, if not better, than my Canadian Cheese Soup recipe, and that’s one fantastic soup. I suppose it’s because I love sweet potatoes so much. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have a quart of half-and-half or heavy cream and a pound of cheese in the recipe! Granted, that’s a lot of dairy, but it does make about 10 large servings.

Normally, I would have used only about two cups of ham, but after cutting up what was left over it measured just over four cups. I decided to use all of it since my husband likes a LOT of meat in his soups, salads or casseroles and, I didn’t want to refreeze the ham or think of something else to do with it. This meat soup is so hearty and filling, has lots of texture and taste, and really doesn’t take all that long to prepare if you have cooked ham on hand.

If you’re looking for a tasty soup recipe to use up sweet potatoes or other garden veggies, or to use up leftover ham from holidays or other uses, then try out Ham and Sweet Potato Soup sometime soon. You will drool over the flavors just like I did. 😉

When I initially posted this recipe in July 2014 I loved the soup but I was really unhappy with my pictures. I used a vegetable broth so the soup ended up looking brownish rather than the cheesy look it’s supposed to have. I decided to remake this recipe (January 2018) for our Friday night care group. This time I used a homemade chicken broth which is much clearer in color than vegetable broth. (Regular chicken broth is also fine).

The results were spectacular. This soup was the rave of our meal. Almost everyone went back for two bowls of this amazing chowder. If you want to drool over one of the most scrumptious soups ever, then give this amazing Ham and Sweet Potato Soup a try. It will sure warm you up on cold, winter nights. And be sure to share a bowl with your family and friends. 🙂

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup has a smooth cheese flavor and is a great comfort food.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Ham and sweet potatoes go so well together. Then add half-and-half and cheese and WOW! Flavor explosion.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

I served our Ham and Sweet Potato Soup with Whole Wheat Parsley Herb Bread. Yes, it dunks really well in this soup. 🙂

Here’s what I did.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

I used these ingredients. While I used a homemade chicken stock, pre-purchased chicken broth is also fine.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Pour chicken broth into your largest Dutch oven or stock pot. This one really wasn’t large enough. I should have used my 7-quart Le Cruset Dutch oven.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Add sweet potatoes

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Add diced onion, leeks, celery, yellow and green bell peppers and sliced carrots. Cover with lid and simmer until veggies are tender–about 20-30 minutes.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Meanwhile, prepare sauce. Melt butter in a separate saucepan. Add gluten free flour. (You can also use regular flour, if desired).

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Whisk ingredients until combined.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Stir in half-and-half about 1/4 cup at a time until all of the cream is incorporated.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Add cheese.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Stir to combine and heat through until thick. 

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Add salt, pepper and fresh parsley. I used pink Himalayan sea salt.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Stir again to combine. Allow the sauce to get thick, then set aside until veggies are done in the Dutch oven.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Here all the veggies have cooked until tender.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Add the cheese sauce and ham pieces. Stir to combine. You can see that my pot wasn’t quite big enough. 🙁

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Heat through another 5 minutes or so.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

The cheese sauce is thick and the ham and veggies are in chunks (but not overcooked to the point of becoming mush!)

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup is seasoned so minimally but it tastes so wonderfully.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup is a great recipe to use up garden produce, too.

Here’s the recipe.

HAM AND SWEET POTATO SOUP

(Recipe inspired from Susan Brindle’s Canadian Cheese Soup, Northborough, MA)

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup

Teresa Ambra
Ham and Sweet Potato Soup is utterly mouthwatering! This is a spectacular savory and delicious ham, cheese, and sweet potato soup. It's chocked full of veggies and perfect for cold, winter nights. Even your kids will rave over this wonderfully, sumptuous soup. Gluten free.
4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Main Dish, Pork Main Dish, Soups, Stews & Chowders
Cuisine Canadian
Servings 12
Calories 446 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large Dutch Oven kettle, or stock pot with lid
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • 1 sauce pan
  • 1 whisk
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 soup ladle
  • 1 vegetable peeler

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups chicken broth or homemade chicken stock
  • 1 medium sweet onion chopped
  • 1 leek green top removed, washed thoroughly and sliced or diced
  • 1 cup celery chopped
  • 1 cup carrots peeled and sliced
  • 2 large sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 2 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 cup gluten free all-purpose flour (you can also use regular flour)
  • 1 quart half-and-half or heavy whipping cream
  • 1 lb. Monterey Jack cheese shredded or cheddar cheese, shredded (2 8-oz. bags)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley minced
  • 4 cups diced ham
  • 1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper chopped (I used one yellow and half of a green bell pepper)

Instructions
 

  • Pour chicken broth into a large Dutch oven.
  • Add onion, leek, celery, carrots, sweet potatoes and bell peppers and cook covered with lid over low to medium heat until veggies are tender – about 20-30 minutes.
  • In a separate sauce pan, melt butter.
  • Whisk in flour.
  • Slowly add half-and-half about ¼ cup at a time until all the half-and-half has been incorporated.
  • Stir in cheese and allow to thicken.
  • Add parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Add cheese sauce and ham to veggie/broth mixture.
  • Stir and heat through.

Notes

NOTE: I used Monterey Jack cheese because it was what I had on hand. Colby Jack or regular sharp cheddar cheese will work just as well.
 
 
NOTE: I used vegetable broth the first time I made this and the sauce ended up an ugly brown color. Chicken broth or homemade chicken stock is preferred.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 446kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 21gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 1503mgPotassium: 479mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 10916IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 414mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cheese, gluten free, ham, soup, sweet potatoes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

[b]Ham and Sweet Potato Soup[/b]
Recipe Type: Soups, Stews & Chowders
Cuisine: Canadian
Author: Teresa Ambra inspired from Susan Brindle’s[url href=”http://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com/2013/04/03/canadian-cheese-soup/” target=”_blank” title=”canadian cheese soup”] Canadian Cheese Soup[/url], Northborough, MA
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
Savory and delicious ham, cheese, and sweet potato soup. This recipe is gluten free.
Ingredients
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 sweet onion, chopped
  • 1 leek, green top removed, quartered and sliced
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 2 large sweet potatoes, cubed
  • 2 tsp. kosher salt
  • ½ tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 stick butter
  • ½ cup [url href=”http://www.bobsredmill.com/” target=”_blank” title=”bobs red mill”]Bob’s Red Mill[/url] gluten free all-purpose flour
  • 1 quart half-and-half
  • 1 lb. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded, or sharp cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley
  • 4 cups diced ham
Instructions
  1. Simmer vegetable and chicken broths with onion, leek, celery, carrots, sweet potatoes, salt and pepper until veggies are tender – about 20-30 minutes.
  2. In a separate pan, melt butter.
  3. Whisk in flour.
  4. Slowly add half-and-half about ¼ cup at a time until all the half-and-half has been incorporated.
  5. Stir in cheese and parsley and allow to thicken.
  6. Add cheese sauce and ham to veggie/broth mixture.
  7. Stir and heat through.
Notes
I used Monterey Jack cheese because it was what I had on hand. Colby Jack or regular sharp cheddar cheese will work just as well.[br][br]I used both vegetable broth and chicken broth. You can use all vegetable broth or all chicken broth if you prefer.
Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

I love eating homemade bread with homemade soup. 

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

This close up allows you to see the texture of the soup. Give this recipe a try and see for yourself just how tasty and delicious it is.

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

I wish you could taste it too. Ham and Sweet Potato Soup is marvelous.

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Loaded Baked Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is phenomenal! It's loaded with #bacon, #cheddarcheese & #sweetpotatoes. Terrific comfort food for cool, fall or winter nights. We loved it! #glutenfree

Southwest Sweet Potato Chowder

Southwest Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | creamy #soup is healthy & delicious. Filled with #sweetpotatoes #blackbeans #corn & #TexMex seasonings. Amazing comfort food.

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Canadian Cheese Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | the BEST #ham and #cheese #soup you'll ever eat. One of my favorite comfort foods.
Ham and Sweet Potato Soup | Can't Stay Out of the Kitchen | this #soup is absolutely amazing. It's a delicious #cheese soup featuring #ham & #sweetpotatoes. So perfect for cold, winter nights. #glutenfree

Ham and Sweet Potato Soup

Teresa Ambra
Ham and Sweet Potato Soup is utterly mouthwatering! This is a spectacular savory and delicious ham, cheese, and sweet potato soup. It's chocked full of veggies and perfect for cold, winter nights. Even your kids will rave over this wonderfully, sumptuous soup. Gluten free.
4 from 1 vote
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Main Dish, Pork Main Dish, Soups, Stews & Chowders
Cuisine Canadian
Servings 12
Calories 446 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large Dutch Oven kettle, or stock pot with lid
  • 1 sharp knife to cut vegetables
  • 1 sauce pan
  • 1 whisk
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 wooden spoon
  • 1 soup ladle
  • 1 vegetable peeler

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups chicken broth or homemade chicken stock
  • 1 medium sweet onion chopped
  • 1 leek green top removed, washed thoroughly and sliced or diced
  • 1 cup celery chopped
  • 1 cup carrots peeled and sliced
  • 2 large sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 2 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 cup gluten free all-purpose flour (you can also use regular flour)
  • 1 quart half-and-half or heavy whipping cream
  • 1 lb. Monterey Jack cheese shredded or cheddar cheese, shredded (2 8-oz. bags)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley minced
  • 4 cups diced ham
  • 1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper chopped (I used one yellow and half of a green bell pepper)

Instructions
 

  • Pour chicken broth into a large Dutch oven.
  • Add onion, leek, celery, carrots, sweet potatoes and bell peppers and cook covered with lid over low to medium heat until veggies are tender – about 20-30 minutes.
  • In a separate sauce pan, melt butter.
  • Whisk in flour.
  • Slowly add half-and-half about ¼ cup at a time until all the half-and-half has been incorporated.
  • Stir in cheese and allow to thicken.
  • Add parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Add cheese sauce and ham to veggie/broth mixture.
  • Stir and heat through.

Notes

NOTE: I used Monterey Jack cheese because it was what I had on hand. Colby Jack or regular sharp cheddar cheese will work just as well.
 
 
NOTE: I used vegetable broth the first time I made this and the sauce ended up an ugly brown color. Chicken broth or homemade chicken stock is preferred.
 
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 446kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 21gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 1503mgPotassium: 479mgFiber: 3gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 10916IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 414mgIron: 2mg
Keyword cheese, gluten free, ham, soup, sweet potatoes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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