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Slow Cooker Pinto Beans

September 26, 2014 by Missy Rakes 100 Comments

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Try this easy method for cooking dried pinto beans in your slow cooker for a cheap and filling meal!

A brown bowl full of cooked pinto beans.

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Slow Cooker Pinto Beans

I normally don’t have too many kitchen mishaps, but when I do it involves dried beans. Seriously, up until about a year ago every time I tried to cook dried beans everything seemed to go horribly wrong.

I don’t now if it was the soaking part or the simmering part, but I just couldn’t seem to get it right. And to make matters worse, my husband’s favorite meal on the planet is beans and cornbread. Seriously.

*face palm*

Anyway, being the determined little wife that I am I kept on trying and failing. Then one day someone told me to use my slow cooker. And just like that my dried bean curse was broken. Brilliant.

As long as you give them enough time and make sure they are covered with water all day, then beans in the slow cooker will treat you right. I’m so glad because they are cheaper than canned beans and they freeze well. Yippee! So here is my recipe for bean success.

How to Make Slow Cooker Pinto Beans:

Cover beans with water to soak overnight.

Next morning, rinse beans and place in slow cooker,

Add water, oil and onion. Stir.

Set on low for 10-12 hrs or until soft. I checked my beans at the 6 1/2 hr mark and they were still crunchy so I turned them on high for 2 hrs to be done in time for dinner which also worked great!

Make cornbread. Because pinto beans without cornbread is just sad.

Let cool and top with all the trimmings!!

*Don’t add salt or high acid foods such as tomatoes until the end because the beans won’t soften.

Well there it is, the secret to perfectly cooked beans. I hope you will try this fabulously frugal recipe and let me know how it worked for you!

Want more recipes using beans? Here are some of my favorites:

Bean and Cheese Freezer Burritos
Super Simple Beans and Rice
Homemade Refried Beans
New Orleans Red Beans and Rice
Black Bean Brownies

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A brown bowl of cooked pinto beans.
Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Pinto Beans

See how easy it is to make pinto beans in your slow cooker!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 hrs
Total Time10 hrs 5 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Slow Cooker Pinto Beans
Servings: 24
Calories: 139kcal

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs dried beans
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2-3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 8 cups water or enough to cover by 1 inch

Instructions

  • Cover beans with water to soak overnight.
  • Next morning, rinse beans and place in slow cooker.
  • Add water, oil and onion. Stir.
  • Set on low for 10-12 hrs or until soft.
  • Let cool and top with all the trimmings.

Video

Notes

Don't add salt or high acid foods such as tomatoes until the end because the beans won't soften.
I freeze extra in quart-sized freezer bags.

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 520mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 3mg

Cooking beans in the slow cooker is simple and cheaper than buying canned. Plus you can freeze the leftovers for future meals!

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Filed Under: Cooking Tips & Tricks, Easy Recipes, Freezer Cooking, Frugal Living, Main Dishes, Slow Cooker

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  1. Cherie says

    June 1, 2022 at 8:04 am

    You don't need to pre soak over night when putting beans in a crock pot on low for 10 to 12 hours. They come out great everytime...
    ★★★★★
    Reply
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Welcome, I'm Missy and I'd love to help you cook from scratch, save money and live a more simple and abundant life. Click the buttons below to follow along on social media and get to know me better. Have a lovely day!

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