Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Beef
27 Comments Dec 30, 2016
Updated Jun 24, 2025
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Do you love homemade pinto beans? Then you will LOVE this Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Beef. Instead of using ham or bacon to flavor the beans, we make this a complete meal by using a chuck roast.
This Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Beef recipe will not disappoint. I did not go the chili route when seasoning this, I did a mild seasoning just to bring out the flavor of the beans and beef. I love homemade pinto beans, especially if they are creamy. When cooking pinto beans on the stove-top they end up being creamy, because of the stirring that the stove-top beans require. To get this creamy effect in the slow cooker I take out a cup or more of beans after they are done cooking and put them in a bowl, I mash them up, them stir them back into the rest of the beans, problem solved!
If you plan on making these beans be sure to read that the pinto beans need to be soaked overnight, doing this will help the beans get nice and tender during the cooking the next day. If you forget to soak, it would be best to do a quick soak method before adding the beans to the slow cooker.
This meal doesn’t need much for serving after it’s done cooking. Just tortilla chips and Monterey Jack cheese was a great match for our tastes.
Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Beef
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dried pinto bean beans, see directions for soaking overnight
- 3 lbs. beef chuck roast
- 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
- 3 beef bouillon cubes
- 1 poblano pepper, diced
- 1 cup red onion, diced
- 2 tsp. garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp. cumin
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 cup beer, can use additional water instead
- 4 cups water
- 1/8 tsp. salt, to taste; add at the end
Options for Serving
- tortilla chips
- Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
Instructions
Preparing the Beans
- The night before you are ready to cook this, add the pinto beans to the slow cooker.
- Cover with a few inches of water.
- Do not turn on the slow cooker, let the beans soak overnight in the water.
Preparing the Beans and Beef
- In the morning drain the water off the pinto beans.
- In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add the oil.
- Once hot, brown the chuck roast on all sides. Set aside.
- Add the beef bouillon cubes, poblano pepper, onion, garlic, bay leaves, pepper, oregano, cumin, and cayenne pepper to the slow cooker along with the drained beans.
- Pour in the water and beer, stir.
- Add in the browned beef.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 10 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- When the cooking time is up, remove the bay leaves and discard.
- Remove the chuck roast, shred and discard fat. Set aside for a moment.
- Degrease the pinto beans by laying paper towels over the top of the beans, and pull up quickly. Discard the paper towels.
- Take about 1 cup of the beans and some broth out into a small bowl, using a fork or a potato masher, mash up those beans, add them back into the slow cooker with the rest of the beans.
- Add the shredded meat back in, stir well.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Serve with tortilla chips and shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More bean recipes:
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Hearty and satisfying, Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham and classic Ham and Beans make great slow-cooked meals using pantry staples and leftover ham.
If you’re feeding a crowd, Slow Cooker Baked Beans are always a hit with their sweet, savory, and smoky flavor profile.
Do you have a low or no salt version. Love pinto beans, just cannot eat salt. Thank You, Wendell
Hi Wendell, I would leave out the bouillon cubes. Possibly try Mrs. Dash seasoning packet such as chili or taco. Or another salt free seasoning.
I think I’d like to try this with a small brisket roast
Can I use pork shoulder roast instead of the beef chuck roast?
I think that would work fine. Be sure to degrease the beans before serving by laying a paper towel over the top and removing quickly.
What kind of beer?
I used Bud Light, though you can use anything you like.
Bud Light, Never Again!!! 🙂
Bud Zero
Hello Sarah: I want to make this pinto bean and beef recipe, what type of poblano pepper do you suggest, Fresh or Dried? It look delicious!
I use fresh, though if you are used to cooking with dried, that will work fine.
I only had ground beef on hand and a can of broth. For peppers I had some jalapeños I used in pickling, so in those went. Added a few drops of liquid smoke. Followed the rest of recipe as written. Can’t wait for it to finish…
Even if you don’t add the meat — this is the best recipe for beans! The flavor is amazing. I’ve done these beans with venison, with a ham hock or just plain beans. This is the recipe I will be using from now on! I always get compliments on how great they are. Thank you for such a great recipe!
So happy you like it Jacque. I will have to try with other meats.
How many carbs ? My 8 yr. old daughter is type 1 diabetic, i must compensate the catbs for insulin..
This Pinto Beans and Beef soup sounds and look delish. Have to try. Funny, but all these decades and it never ever occurred to me to use beef (Mama always used ham). Love anything beef. Bet a couple of slices of hot buttered fried cornbread would complete it!
oh yes, corn bread would be great with this!
Ohhh…I’ve had something like these as a side at a steakhouse. They were awesome! Thanks for the recipe 🙂