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Comforting Crockpot Pinto Beans Recipe with Ham Hock Easy and Perfect

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A soul-soothing slow cooker recipe featuring pinto beans simmered with smoky ham hock and sweet onion, perfect for cozy dinners and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dry pinto beans (about 2 cups), rinsed and sorted
  • 1 large smoked ham hock (about 1 to 1½ pounds)
  • 1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced (optional)
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or water for lighter flavor)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for sautéing onions, optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and sort the beans, removing any stones or shriveled beans (about 5 minutes).
  2. Optional: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sauté the quartered onion for 5-7 minutes until translucent and starting to brown.
  3. Place rinsed beans, smoked ham hock, sautéed or raw onion quarters, and minced garlic into the crockpot.
  4. Pour in chicken broth, add bay leaves, ground cumin, and smoked paprika if using. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Check at 6 hours for tenderness; beans should be soft but not mushy.
  6. Remove ham hock and bay leaves carefully. Shred ham meat off the bone, discard bones and fat, then stir meat back into the beans.
  7. Season with salt and pepper to taste, starting with 1 teaspoon salt and adjusting as needed.
  8. Serve warm, optionally with cornbread or a fresh green salad.

Notes

Do not add salt before the beans are soft to avoid toughening. If beans are too thick, add hot water or broth before serving. If too watery, cook uncovered on high for 15-20 minutes to reduce liquid. Soaking beans overnight can reduce cooking time by about 2 hours and improve digestibility. Variations include using smoked turkey leg or sausage instead of ham hock, or making a vegetarian version with smoked paprika and liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot pinto beans, ham hock beans, slow cooker beans, comfort food, easy bean recipe, smoky beans, pinto beans recipe

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