Description
Hearty pinto beans simmer to perfection in this classic Southern comfort dish from the Pioneer Woman’s kitchen. Rustic slow-cooker magic delivers rich, tender beans that comfort and nourish anyone craving a wholesome, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) dry pinto beans
- 3 cups (710 milliliters) water
- 4 cups (946 milliliters) low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
Vegetable and Spice Ingredients:
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped into ¼-inch dice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Seasonings and Oils:
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
Optional Serving Ingredients:
- Fresh parsley
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced red onion
- Diced green pepper
Instructions
- Carefully examine and rinse pinto beans under cold running water, discarding any discolored or damaged kernels in a colander.
- Transfer meticulously cleaned beans into a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker, ensuring even distribution.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high temperature, sautéing diced onions, chopped jalapeños, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for approximately 2 minutes until vegetables become translucent.
- Introduce minced garlic to the skillet, stirring rapidly until aromatic (about 30 seconds), then transfer the fragrant mixture into the slow cooker.
- Incorporate bay leaves, ground cumin, dried oregano, remaining salt, and cayenne pepper into the slow cooker. Pour chicken or vegetable broth and water, ensuring ingredients are well combined.
- Secure slow cooker lid and set to HIGH heat, allowing beans to simmer for 8 to 10 hours until beans reach optimal tenderness, periodically checking liquid levels and stirring gently.
- Eliminate bay leaves after cooking process completes, assessing whether a brothy or drained consistency is preferred.
- For refried-style preparation, separate 1 cup of cooking liquid, drain remaining liquid, and thoroughly mash beans within the slow cooker, gradually reintroducing reserved liquid for desired creaminess.
- Garnish with optional fresh ingredients like chopped parsley, diced tomatoes, finely sliced red onions, and green bell peppers before serving warm.
Notes
- Slow cooking transforms humble pinto beans into a luxurious, deeply satisfying comfort food with minimal kitchen effort.
- Rinsing beans thoroughly eliminates potential debris and prepares a pristine flavor foundation for your dish.
- Briefly sautéing aromatics like onions and jalapeños before slow cooking unlocks their most complex, nuanced flavors.
- Toasting spices momentarily in a hot skillet awakens their essential oils, creating a rich, layered seasoning profile.
- Gentle, prolonged cooking allows beans to absorb seasonings completely, resulting in tender, incredibly flavorful legumes.
- Freezing portions ensures convenient, delicious meals ready at a moment’s notice, making this recipe perfect for busy households.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg