Slow Cooker Pinto Beans
Once you learn how to make Slow Cooker Pinto Beans from scratch, it’s hard to go back to canned ones. Slow-cooked until tender and creamy, these beans are packed with rich, hearty flavor. With just a few simple ingredients, dried pinto beans transform into a dish that’s both satisfying and versatile.
If you love classic comfort food, be sure to also check out my Lima Beans, White Beans and Ham, Great Northern Beans Recipe, Easy Broccoli Rice Casserole, and Yellow Squash Casserole for more favorites your family will love.
Jump to:
💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Use pantry staples and affordable ingredients for this dried pinto beans recipe.
- Big Southern Flavor: Smoked sausage, garlic, and onion create a rich, bold flavor.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Makes a large batch you can enjoy later in the week.
- Easy to Prepare: Cooking pinto beans in the slow cooker is easy, and they always cook perfectly.
🛒 Ingredients Needed for Pinto Beans and Sausage
- Dried Pinto Beans: You’ll need a 1-pound bag.
- Smoked sausages: I used two pounds of smoked sausage for this recipe to make it a complete meal and add protein. Cut the sausage into rounds.
- Minced Garlic: I used jarred garlic for convenience.
- Diced Onion and Jalapeno: Dice the onion and jalapeno. They add lots of flavor without being overpowering.
- Water and Chicken Broth: Water softens the beans during cooking, and the chicken broth adds flavor and richness to the dish.
- Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, and Creole Seasoning: These are the seasonings I used for this pinto beans recipe. Feel free to use your favorite seasonings. The creole adds a southern flair and a little kick.
📖 Recipe Variations
- Ham Hock Version: Replace the sausage with smoked ham hocks for a traditional southern flavor.
- Extra Vegetables: Stir in diced bell peppers, celery, or carrots for extra vegetables.
- Pinto Beans and Rice: Serve over white rice for a filling meal.
🔪 How to Make Pinto Beans
Step 1: Rinse the dried pinto beans and soak them overnight in the refrigerator.
Step 2: The next morning, drain and rinse the beans thoroughly.
Step 3: Add the soaked beans to the slow cooker.
Step 4: Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and stir everything well.
Step 5: Cover with the lid. Cook on Low for 6–8 hours or High for 4–5 hours.
Step 6: Serve hot with cornbread, rice, or crusty bread.
💭 Recipe Tips
❔Recipe FAQs
Yes and no. Yes, soaking helps reduce cooking time and ensures the beans cook evenly. Although some may add the dried beans to the slow cooker and cook for a longer period of time.
Fridge: Store all leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freezer: Allow the beans and sausage to cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Heat leftovers on the stovetop or in the microwave until warm.
Soaking beans overnight is the best method for cooking them. Soaking helps to soften the beans and absorb the flavors as they cook. You could also use the quick soak method. The instructions are usually found on the back of the bag, or you can find them here in my baby lima beans recipe.
More Southern Comfort Food
If you tried this Slow Cooker Pinto Beans recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Slow Cooker Pinto Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound Dried Pinto Beans
- 1-2 pounds Smoked Sausage cut into rounds
- 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic I used galic from a jar.
- 1 Onion diced
- 1 Jalapeno diced
- 4 cups Water
- 4 cups Chicken Broth
- 1½ teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon each Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Creole Seasoning
Instructions
- Rinse the dried pinto beans and soak them overnight in the refrigerator. You might also use the quick soak method, which is usually found on the back of the bag.
- The next morning, drain and rinse the beans thoroughly.
- Add the soaked beans to the slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and stir everything well.
- Cover with the lid. Cook on Low for 6–8 hours or High for 4–5 hours.
- Serve hot with cornbread, rice, or crusty bread.
Slow cooked pinto beans and sausage is an easy and delicious meal. Toss everything into the crock pot and let it do the work for you.