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Slow Cooker Pinto Beans

Slow cooker pinto beans are tender, delicious, and easy! I developed this fabulous crockpot recipe after finding too many hard, uncooked beans after cooking in a pot on the stove.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 13 hours 15 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 8 people
Calories 2020.2 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Bowl For soaking beans
  • 1 Slow Cooker Essential for the cooking process
  • 1 Cutting Board For prepping vegetables and ham
  • 1 Chef's knife For chopping and dicing
  • 1 Measuring Cups/Spoons For accurate ingredient measurement

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 pound dried pinto beans
  • 1 pound Black Forest ham cubed
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • ¾ medium green bell pepper diced
  • 2 medium celery ribs chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lard
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin or to taste
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 5 cups chicken broth or as needed to cover

Instructions
 

  • Place beans in a large bowl and cover with water. Allow to soak 8 hours to overnight. Drain. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Place soaked pinto beans in a slow cooker. Add ham, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, oregano, lard, cumin, and bay leaves. Pour in enough chicken broth to cover all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Pour in enough chicken broth to cover all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Cook on High until beans are very tender, 5 to 6 hours. DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS 

Notes

For a truly superior pot of beans, always ensure your dried beans are fresh; older beans can stubbornly remain firm. While overnight soaking is standard, a 'quick soak' method (boil 1 minute, soak 1 hour) can work in a pinch. The lard is crucial for a rich, silky mouthfeel and depth of flavor; rendered bacon fat is an excellent substitute, or for a vegetarian version, a good quality olive oil. Hold off on adding salt until the beans are tender, as it can hinder softening. Taste and adjust seasonings aggressively at the end – a splash of apple cider vinegar or lime juice can brighten the entire dish. Consider adding a smoked ham hock for deeper, smoky undertones. Serve garnished with fresh cilantro and a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil for a vibrant finish.