How To Make Slow Cooker Beans

Learning how to cook slow cooker beans will add a lot of variety and taste to your meals. There are many types of different beans to choose from and using a slow cooker offers a fun and easy way of making different dishes. A slow cooker is great for beginner cooks and people who just don’t have time to cook a whole meal. It can be started before leaving for work in the morning, and dinner is done by the time you get home.

Items Needed:

• Slow cooker
• Strainer
• Slotted spoon

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dried pinto beans
• 1 tspn chili powder
• ½ tspn dried oregano
• 1 tspn garlic salt
• 1/2 pound ham hocks
• 4 cups water
• 1 onion, diced
• Salt and pepper
  

1. Wash beans. Wash the beans thoroughly and look through them for any pebbles or small stones that may have been missed in packaging. If you are unable to find pinto beans, kidney or chili beans can be substituted in this slow cooker bean recipe.
2. Soak beans overnight. Fill a large pot or bowl with cold water and add beans. Let them soak overnight. Rinse and add to the slow cooker.
3. Make bean stock. In a separate pot, pre-soak the ham in four cups of water. Let it sit for two hours or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, depending on how salty you want the stock to be (the longer it soaks, the saltier it will become).
4. Combine the stock and ham with the beans in the slow cooker. Add any additional water to cover the ham completely if needed. Add onion, seasonings, salt and pepper. Other vegetables can be added at this point as well. Sage, thyme and fresh garlic can also be used to add extra flavors.
5. Stir well. Cover the pot and cook on high for approximately five hours or until the beans are tender. If you are leaving it for the day, it can be set on low for eight to ten hours.

This dish makes ten to twelve servings and stores well in the freezer. While beans provide an adequate source of protein, this dish can also be served with baby back ribs or other meat for a complete meal. This is an ideal recipe to take for special occasions because it can be started early in the day, and can be plugged back in when you get to your destination.