Crock Pot Pinto Beans
Pinto Beans are rich and creamy, delicious on their own or along side a bowl of chili.
There is something comforting about a pot of beans on the stove, cooking down all day. Comforting, yes, but not necessarily relaxing. Tending to a simmering pot of anything on a stove requires vigilance and regular attention. That's why crock pot cooking is such a joy. Set it and forget it. About the only chore you might have is turning the heat switch from high to low once the crock pot gets things to a simmer.
This recipe is a great accompaniment to the Kitchen Tapestry recipe for Crock Pot Chili con Carne.
Crock Pot Pinto Beans

Yield: 6-10
Pinto Beans are rich and creamy, delicious on their own or along side a bowl of chili.
Ingredients
- 1 lb bag dried pinto beans
- 6 cups chicken stock (like, Swanson's or Kitchen Basics)
- 1 12-oz bottle of beer (pilsner preferred, but any beer will do)
- 2 cups water
- 1 small white onion, finely diced
- 6 oz salt pork. diced (you can substitute thick cut bacon)
- 2 tbsp fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked salt (like, San Francisco Salt Company Alder Wood)
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire black pepper (like, McCormick)
Instructions
- Rinse the beans under cold water through a colander and always look for small pebbles.
- You can either soak the beans in enough cold water overnight, or put beans in a cooking pot with enough cold water to cover the beans by four inches, and then bring to a boil. Allow the beans to boil rapidly for three minutes, then turn the heat off, cover the pot and let it sit for one hour.
- Pre-heat your crock pot by filling it with hot tap water, and setting it on high heat for thirty minutes.
- Whether you've soaked the beans overnight or did the stovetop method, discard the soaking water.
- Empty the crock pot of its heating water, then place the beans and all remaining ingredients into the pot, stir, cover and cook 3 hours on high and another 6 hours on low. Stir once about halfway through.
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