COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

Start by placing the ham at the bottom of the crockpot. This will allow the juices from the ham to flavor the other ingredients as they cook.

Next, layer the fresh or frozen green beans over the ham, followed by the chopped, bite-sized pieces of yellow or red potatoes.

Season the layers with thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and any optional spices like cinnamon and cloves to taste. Cooking ham hocks slowly allows for a rich and distinct umami flavor to develop in the broth.

Pour enough chicken broth and water into the crockpot to cover the ingredients completely.

Cover the crockpot with the lid and set it to cook on high for 4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.

Once cooking is complete, if using a ham hock, remove it from the crockpot, let it cool, then dice the meat and return it to the pot.

Stir everything together, serve warm, and add additional broth if desired for extra moisture.

For best results, make sure that your potatoes are cut into small enough pieces to cook thoroughly.

You can adjust the seasoning according to the saltiness of your broth, and if you have a smaller crockpot, be mindful to reduce the cooking time as necessary.

This dish isn't only a great way to use up leftover ham but also a comforting meal that everyone will enjoy.