If you’re looking for a big bold flavored bean recipe, this is the one. You need a meaty ham bone along with pinto beans, garlic, onion, thyme, rosemary, and a bay leaf to make it. Perhaps you already have all or at least most of these ingredients on hand.
Save the bone next time you are cooking ham but rinse it really well first, especially if it’s had pineapple or fruit on it, as that would taste a bit strange in the beans. If you haven’t cooked a ham, you can just buy one or get the bone from a butcher.
Dried beans work in this recipe or you can use canned ones. If you’re using canned, then take a couple of hours off the cooking time. You don’t have to soak dried beans overnight for this recipe either, although it can shorten the cooking time a bit. For a smoky result, throw in some smoky bacon or a smoked ham hock.
Why You’ll Love the Recipe
This meaty bean stew is so tasty. It’s really easy to make as well – you simply add the ingredients to a slow cooker and wait for 8 hours.
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How to Serve It
This tasty stew pairs well with crusty French baguette or your favorite kind of wholegrain bread or rolls. You can enjoy it as a stew or, if you prefer, as a side dish alongside something like rib-eye steak or grilled chicken.
Can You Make It Ahead?
Yes, you can prepare it in advance and warm it back up later.
Storage Instructions
Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the recipe for up to 3 months.
Variations and Substitutions
Use ground pepper instead of pepper flakes or use dried rosemary (only about a third of the amount) instead of fresh. Try other beans if pinto beans aren’t available or aren’t your favorite.
Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham
Ingredients
- 1 meaty ham bone
- 8 cups water reduce to 6 cups if using soaked beans
- 2½ cups pinto beans either dried or soaked overnight
- 5 minced garlic cloves
- 1 large bay leaf
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 diced yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
Instructions
- Rinse the ham bone and then put everything except the salt in your slow cooker.
- Stir well and cook on high for 7 or 8 hours (for dried beans) or low for 7 to 8 hours (for soaked beans).
- Stir halfway through cooking and add water if the beans aren’t covered.
- Discard the bay leaf and ham bone.
- Add salt if needed and then serve hot with crusty bread on the side.
- Enjoy!
