Crock Pot Pinto Beans
Creamy, flavorful crock pot pinto beans made from dried beans with onion, garlic, bay leaves, and simple spices. Soak overnight, then let the slow cooker do the work for an easy, mostly hands-off side dish.
Servings: 12 approximately ½ cup each
Calories: 136kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried pinto beans
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt for soaking, plus a little for seasoning
- 1 small white onion peeled and quartered
- 3 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika optional
- ¼ teaspoon ancho chili powder optional
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cups filtered water
- 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
Instructions
Soak pinto beans
- Rinse and drain the beans, discarding any broken beans. Add them to a 2 quart container and cover with water to fill the container. Beans soak up a lot of water. Add 1 tablespoon kosher salt, cover and refrigerate overnight.
Add the beans and aromatics
- Add soaked pinto beans, onion wedges, garlic, spices, and bay leaves to the slow cooker.
Add the liquid
- Pour in the water and broth, adding just enough liquid to barely cover the beans. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours, checking at 5–6 hours.
Serve the beans
- Serve brothy pinto beans with a little of their cooking liquid, topped with white onion, cilantro, and jalapeño slices.
Notes
No-soak option: I prefer soaking pinto beans overnight for the most even cooking and creamy texture. If you don’t have time to soak, rinse the beans well and cook them un-soaked, but expect a longer cooking time. Start checking at 8 hours on LOW and continue cooking until tender. Older beans may take longer.
Slow cooker timing: For the best texture, cook pinto beans low and slow. Cook soaked beans on LOW for about 6–7 hours, checking at 5–6 hours. For a faster option, cook on HIGH for about 3½–4½ hours. Timing varies depending on your slow cooker and the age of the beans.
Doneness: Beans are done when they are tender and creamy inside but still holding their shape. For softer beans, cook a little longer.
Nutrition
Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 591mg | Potassium: 545mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 39IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg