Step 1

Lightly spray the crock of a slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Set the temperature to low.

Step 2

Rinse and sort the dried beans to eliminate any bad beans or foreign debris.

Step 3

Add the celery, carrot, onion, and ham to the slow cooker. Pour the beans on top. Add the water. Add the pepper. Cover and cook on high for 5 to 6 hours or on low for 8 to (See blog post about cook time.)

Step 4

Once tender to your liking add the ham seasoning packet and salt to taste. For us, it's about 1 teaspoon of salt.

Step 5

For a creamy broth, stir vigorously, pressing some of the beans against the side of the crock to mash them up. Stir to combine.