Description
This Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham is the ultimate comfort meal—rich, smoky, and packed with hearty flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups dried pinto beans (about 400g, rinsed and sorted)
- 1½ cups cooked ham (diced or 1 smoked ham hock)
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 medium carrot (diced, optional)
- 1 celery stalk (diced, optional)
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or water)
- 1 cup water (extra, if needed)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust later depending on ham)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional but recommended)
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Prepare the Beans
- Rinse and sort the beans, removing any debris.
- (Optional) Soak overnight for slightly faster cooking and easier digestion.
- Load the Slow Cooker
- Add beans, ham, onion, garlic, carrot, and celery.
- Pour in broth and enough water to cover everything by about 2–3 cm.
- Add salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and bay leaf.
- Cook Low and Slow
- Cover and cook:
- LOW for 7–8 hours, or
- HIGH for 4–5 hours
- Beans should be tender and creamy.
- Finish the Dish
- Remove the bay leaf (and ham hock bone if used).
- If using a ham hock, shred the meat and return it to the pot.
- Taste and adjust salt and seasoning.
- Adjust Texture (Optional)
- For thicker beans: mash a small portion and stir back in.
- For thinner: add a bit of hot water or broth.
Notes
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Slow Cooker, Pinto Beans, Ham