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Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham is a simple recipe that is hearty, filling, and delicious! This is comfort food! This crock pot pinto beans and ham is a slow cooker dump and start recipe. So easy!
Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham
If you happen to have a leftover meaty ham bone from Easter, or even older in your freezer, go dig it out and make this! Not only will you regain valuable space in your freezer (is that just me?), but you can make this EASY dinner!
To me, easy means minimal work. This is a slow cooker dump and start recipe. All you need to do is chop up an onion and some garlic, dump everything in the crock, turn it on and go do something fun!
Or work. You can go do work, like I do.
Do I need to soak my pinto beans?
Nope! I make this recipe using dry beans. It’s the difference of cooking on High heat for unsoaked beans, to cooking on Low heat for soaked beans.
If you have old beans (not sure how you can tell other than they have been in the pantry a looooong time), they take longer to cook. Just a FYI.
What if I don’t have a leftover meaty ham bone?
- If your freezer isn’t hiding a leftover meaty ham bone, you can go to Honey Baked Ham® (if you have one in your area) and buy one from them. I hear that’s a great option.
- You can go to the grocery store and get a couple of smoked pork hocks (ham hocks), or even smoked turkey wings or legs.
- Just add some liquid smoke if you have it, for the smoky flavor, and use chicken or pork (add chicken halfway through cooking).
Does this freeze well?
Yes. Though if your ham bone was frozen already, you may not want to leave it in the freezer for too long.
This crock pot pinto beans and ham recipe reheats like a dream! Great to take to work. Just grab some fresh bread and butter and you are set!
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If you make this crock pot pinto beans and ham recipe, please comment below and let me know how you liked it!
Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham
Ingredients
- 1 Meaty Ham Bone
- 2 ½ cups Pinto Beans (dry or soaked overnight)
- 8 cups Water (6 cups for soaked beans)
- 1 large Bay Leaf
- 5 cloves Garlic, minced (or to taste)
- 1 lg Onion, diced
- ½ teaspoon Thyme Leaves, dried (not ground)
- 2 sprigs Fresh Rosemary
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Rinse your meaty ham bone (especially if it has pineapple/fruit on it).
- Add everything except for the salt to the crock. Stir.
- Cook on High for 7-8 hours (for soaked beans cook on Low for 7-8 hours). Stir halfway through cook time and add water if beans are not covered.
- Remove the ham bone and bay leaf and discard.
- Taste and add salt if needed.
- Serve with some bread, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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What can you use in place of a bay leaf? Is it really necessary?
You can leave it out.
Can you use a ham steak and if so, how to cut it?
Yes you can. Cut ham into slightly larger than bite-sized chunks.
This was the answer I was looking for. Thanks!
This recipe was delicious. I used a ham bone from Honey Baked Ham. I did not know that was an option. I used a little more pepper at the end and one teaspoon of Creole Seasoning.
Should the ham bone be thawed first?
No, it doesn’t need to be thawed as it is already cooked. The cook time will be a bit longer is all.
I just made this, cooked my dried beans in the instant pot for 15 minutes, then put everything in the crockpot. I used leftover Christmas ham pieces I had thrown in a ziploc and frozen. Delicious! Thanks for the recipe!!
Can you use canned pinto beans?
Yes, but don’t add as much water/broth. Maybe to 1 cup. Add more if needed by checking on it halfway through cook time. You can also cut the cook time down as the meat is already cooked
I’m using “16 beans” mix. Will they work just as well, and will it thicken up?
I haven’t tried that. Let me know if you do and I will update the post with that info.
Easy to make and fantastic taste. …I did use Tony Sachere instead of salt but we like things spicy around here.
Followed the recipe to the letter. Simply fantastic! Thank you!
Absolutely delicious!!!! I added liquid smoke and some heat in the form of smoked and hot paprika just because i like it but it was fabulous before I added the heat. Since I’m counting calories, this was hearty easy and now I have lunch for the week for a reasonable calorie count. THANKS!!!!!
WHAT??? Seriously beans only ever get better with more cooking, never heard of a over cooked pinto bean.. actually when the get to the point where like half the beans are starting to get kind of mushy is t hmm e best it makes a nice think broth. I keep a pot of beans on all week every week for years now it’s what we are raised on here in New Mexico and lots of chile
I made these beans in my crock pot. They tasted delicious, but mine were finished cooking in about 5 hours instead of 7 or 8. I used dried beans that I had not soaked and cooked on high. I was glad I checked them, otherwise they would have been way over cooked. Thanks for posting your recipe.