Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham

5 from 1 vote

These delicious Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham are cooked with broth, sauteed onion, and just a few seasonings for a flavorful dish dish everyone will love.

Prep Time10

Total Time5 10

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment

Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger (I own and use this one from Crock-Pot)

Ingredients

1 large sweet yellow onion sliced into thick rounds
2 Tbsp. cooking oil (vegetable oil or canola oil)
1 lb. dried pinto beans (no need to presoak)
2 cups diced ham
1 tsp. chili powder
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. onion powder
7 cups chicken broth
salt to taste (add after cooking time is up)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Sort out any dirt clumps and rocks from the beans and discard. Rinse the beans and add to the slow cooker.
In a large skillet set to medium high heat, add the cooking oil. Add the thick onion slices and cook on each side until browned. Don't burn, but the darker you brown them, the more flavor they will have.
Add the onion on top of the beans along ham with the seasonings (except salt).
Pour over the chicken broth.
Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or until the beans are tender.
When the cooking time is up, stir and taste if salt is needed. The ham may be enough salt for the recipe.

Notes

Crock pot pinto beans taste amazing with any meat scraps (especially flavorful ham hocks), so if you have one on hand, throw it in.
To get the best pinto beans, you don't have to soak them overnight. While some argue that soaked beans cook quicker, it's also been said that they are more flavorful having not been soaked. Cooking beans is really easy and this is an easy recipe to follow.
Pour any leftover ham and beans into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

QR code

Scan this QR code with your phone's camera to view this recipe on your mobile device.