Homemade Navy Bean Soup Recipe - Perfect Comfort Food - My Homemade Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried white navy beans or 3 (15 oz) cans navy beans, rinsed and drained
• 8 ounces bacon, finely chopped (optional)
• Hambone or 2½ cups chopped ham or shredded chicken
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 bulb fennel, chopped
• 1½ cups chopped celery
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups Yukon gold potatoes, chopped into ½-inch cubes
• 1 (14.5 oz) can fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
• 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon each: ground mustard, dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon each: dried basil, oregano, thyme, smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon each: pepper, red pepper flakes
• 2 bay leaves
• ¼ cup finely chopped chives
• Salt to taste