you’re able to find smoked ham hocks in the meat department in your grocery store.

They add depth to any soup, stew, or side dish.

These ham hock recipes are big on flavor but low on effort.

Capitol Hill Bean Soup

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

There’s no need to soak the beans beforehand.

Just add them in with the other ingredients and cook.

Let your slow cooker cook the greens low and slow.

Collard Greens with Smoked Ham Hocks and Pickled Collard Green Stems

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

A ham hock lends a smoky flavor to every bite.

Add a slurry near the end of cooking time for an incredibly thick, delicious soup.

If you cant find tasso, substitute ham hocks so you wont miss any of the smokiness.

creamy-potato-and-ham-hock-slow-cooker-soup

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Puree a portion of the soup for athicker version.

Capitol Hill Bean Soup

The Senate’s restaurant has served a bean soup recipe since 1903.

Once you try our version, you’ll understand why it’s never left the menu.

Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Slow-Cooker Collard Greens with Ham Hocks Recipe

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Classic Fresh Field Peas

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Instant Pot Black-eyed Pea Soup

Credit: Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Emily’s Red Beans and Rice

Credit: Peter Frank Edwards

Ham hock-and-black bean soup in blue bowl with bread

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Jillian Knox

Black-eyed pea soup with ham hocks in white pot with smaller bowl of soup

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Southern Living Freezer-Friendly Braised Southern Greens in a bowl to serve

Credit:Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

Split Pea Soup in a white bowl

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

ham and bean soup - Southern Living

Credit:Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Stylist: Torie Cox