Welcome to a culinary journey that brings the soulful flavors of the Appalachian mountains right to your slow cooker. This incredibly simple, yet profoundly satisfying, Slow Cooker Soup Beans and Ham recipe is designed for ease and maximum flavor. Using readily available canned pinto beans and savory ham, it transforms humble ingredients into a hearty meal that’s perfect for any day of the week. Forget the fuss of overnight soaking or complex steps; this shortcut method delivers a delicious, comforting dish that will warm you from the inside out, making it an instant family favorite.
A Classic Appalachian Comfort Food: Unpacking Soup Beans and Ham
In the heart of the American South, particularly within the picturesque regions surrounding the Appalachian Mountains, certain dishes aren’t just meals – they’re culinary traditions, steeped in history and communal warmth. Soup beans and ham stands as a quintessential example. Often misunderstood, it’s vital to clarify that “soup beans” is not merely a generic bean soup. Instead, it specifically refers to dried brown beans, most commonly pinto beans, cooked slowly with smoked pork, like ham or ham hocks, to impart a deep, savory flavor profile.
This traditional dish embodies the spirit of Appalachian cooking: resourcefulness, hearty sustenance, and a focus on comforting, flavorful ingredients. Historically, it was a practical and economical meal that could feed a large family with readily available staples. The slow cooking process tenderizes the beans and allows the rich, smoky essence of the ham to infuse every spoonful, creating a broth that is both nourishing and incredibly tasty. While it can serve as a substantial side dish, soup beans and ham is overwhelmingly considered a main course, especially when paired with its indispensable companion: a warm, crusty slice of cornbread. The combination creates a textural and flavor harmony that is truly irresistible, offering a taste of heritage in every bite.
Why Choose This Slow Cooker Shortcut?
While traditional soup beans often involve hours of soaking and simmering dried beans, our recipe embraces a modern, convenient approach without compromising on that cherished, authentic flavor. By utilizing canned pinto beans, we dramatically cut down on preparation time, transforming a weekend project into an effortless weeknight meal. The beauty of the slow cooker truly shines here, taking care of the work for you.
This method allows the flavors of the ham and beans to meld beautifully over several hours of gentle heat, resulting in a dish that tastes like it’s been simmering all day, even though your hands-on time is minimal. It’s the perfect solution for busy families or anyone looking for a hearty, budget-friendly meal that delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort. This “shortcut” doesn’t mean skipping on taste; it simply means smart cooking, ensuring you can enjoy this Appalachian classic more often, whenever the craving strikes.
Expert Tips for Crafting Your Perfect Slow Cooker Soup Beans:
Making delicious soup beans is straightforward, but a few expert tips can elevate your dish from good to unforgettable. This recipe focuses on a convenient shortcut, but we also provide guidance for those who prefer a more traditional route or wish to customize their meal.
- Embracing the Shortcut (Canned Beans): This recipe champions the use of canned pinto beans for ultimate convenience. There’s no need to drain or rinse them, as the liquid from the cans contributes to the flavor and consistency of the soup. This saves you valuable time and effort, making it ideal for busy schedules.
- Going Traditional (Dried Beans): If you prefer to use dried beans, you certainly can! Simply soak approximately 1 pound of dried pinto beans in water overnight. After soaking, rinse them thoroughly to remove any impurities. When using dried beans, you’ll need to add about 4-6 cups of water or broth to your slow cooker to ensure they cook through and achieve the desired consistency. The cooking time might also be slightly longer, possibly 8-10 hours on low.
- The Ham Factor: Leftovers are Gold: This recipe is a fantastic way to utilize leftover holiday ham (from Christmas, Easter, or any celebration). Cubed or shredded ham works perfectly, adding a depth of flavor that only real ham can provide. If you don’t have leftovers, a pre-packaged diced ham or even a small ham steak, chopped, will do the trick. For an even richer, smoky flavor, consider adding a ham hock or a small piece of smoked pork hock to the slow cooker alongside your cubed ham. Just be sure to remove any bones before serving.
- Sourcing Ham Flavoring: Ham concentrate or ham base (bouillon) is key to infusing a robust ham flavor, especially when not using a ham hock. Ham concentrate is often found in the Latin foods aisle of larger grocery stores. Ham base or bouillon, typically found in the soup aisle near chicken and beef broths, is a widely available alternative. A general guideline is about a teaspoon of ham base for every cup of liquid, but always check package directions. If using a ham hock, you might reduce or omit the concentrate, tasting as you go.
- Elevate with Aromatics: Don’t hesitate to enhance the flavor profile with classic aromatics. Diced yellow onion and minced garlic are fantastic additions. You can sauté them briefly before adding to the slow cooker for an extra layer of flavor, or simply toss them in raw. A bay leaf or two can also add a subtle, herbaceous note, which should be removed before serving.
- Customizing Spices: For a touch of warmth and earthiness, consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of black pepper. A tiny splash of apple cider vinegar at the end can brighten the flavors beautifully.
- Serving Suggestions: While cornbread is the quintessential accompaniment, don’t stop there! These soup beans are equally delightful with warm, fluffy Butter Swim Biscuits, Southern-style greens, or a crisp side salad.
- Instant Pot Experimentation: While this recipe is tailored for the slow cooker, the Instant Pot offers a quicker cooking method. I haven’t personally tested this specific shortcut recipe in an Instant Pot, but generally, beans cook much faster under pressure. If you attempt it, you might need to adjust liquid amounts and cooking times significantly (likely around 20-30 minutes under high pressure for canned beans to meld flavors, perhaps longer for dried and soaked beans). Please share your results if you try it!
- Storage and Reheating: Leftovers are a true treasure! Store any remaining soup beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. They also freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to adjust consistency.
Simple Ingredients for a Profound Flavor:
The beauty of this slow cooker recipe lies in its simplicity. You only need a few key ingredients to create a deeply flavorful and satisfying meal. These components work together harmoniously to deliver that classic Appalachian taste.
- Canned pinto beans (no need to drain, the liquid adds to the broth)
- Ham concentrate or quality ham bouillon/base
- Cubed ham (leftover ham is highly recommended, or store-bought diced ham)
How to Make Easy Crock Pot Soup Beans and Ham: Step-by-Step Guide
Making this hearty dish couldn’t be easier, thanks to the magic of your slow cooker. Just a few simple steps stand between you and a delicious, comforting meal that tastes like it’s been simmering for days.
- Combine All Ingredients: Begin by adding all of your ingredients directly into the basin of your slow cooker. This includes the canned pinto beans (undrained), your chosen ham concentrate or ham base, and the cubed ham. If you’re incorporating diced onions or minced garlic, now is the time to add them as well.
- Stir and Cover: Give everything a good, thorough stir to ensure the ham concentrate or base is evenly distributed throughout the beans and ham. This step is crucial for infusing that savory ham flavor into every part of the dish. Once stirred, place the lid securely on your slow cooker.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Set your slow cooker to the LOW setting and let it cook for approximately 6-8 hours. The beauty of this recipe is that all the ingredients are already pre-cooked. The purpose of this extended cooking time isn’t to cook raw ingredients, but rather to allow the flavors to deeply meld and marry. The beans will absorb that wonderful ham essence, and the broth will become rich and savory. You’ll know it’s ready when the aroma fills your kitchen and the beans are tender and deeply flavored.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooking is complete, give the beans another stir, taste, and adjust seasonings if necessary. Then, ladle generous portions into bowls and serve immediately. This filling and budget-friendly meal is simply perfect when accompanied by warm, freshly baked cornbread. Enjoy this easy, comforting classic!
Craving More Hearty Southern & Slow Cooker Recipes?
If you’ve enjoyed the comforting flavors of these slow cooker soup beans and ham, you’re in for a treat! The world of Southern comfort food and effortless slow cooker meals is vast and delicious. Here are some more recipes to inspire your next meal:
- Southern Black Eyed Peas
- Chow Chow
- Ham and Cheese Butter Swim Biscuits
- Crock Pot Creamy Potato and Ham Soup
- Crock Pot Salisbury Steak
- Crock Pot Meatloaf
- Crock Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
- Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken
- White Bean Soup with Ham
- Crock Pot Swedish Meatballs
- Leftover Ham Recipes
Crock Pot Soup Beans and Ham (+Video)
This easy Slow Cooker Soup Beans and Ham recipe is made with canned pinto beans, ham flavoring and chopped ham. Simple but delicious!
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Ingredients
- 4 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans
- 1 packet ham concentrate
- 1 pound package of cubed ham (or leftover chopped ham)
Instructions
- Take all the ingredients and combine in your slow cooker.
- Give it all a good stir and cover.
- Set on low for about 4-6 hours.
- Everything in here is already precooked. You’re really just giving the flavors a chance to meld and for the beans to take on that yummy ham flavor.
- Serve with cornbread.
Video
Notes
- Ham concentrate can usually be found in the Latin foods aisle of your grocery store.
- Also, you may be able to find a product called Ham Base. It is usually located down the soup aisle, near the chicken and beef broth. You can also use that for ham flavoring (about a teaspoon).
- For additional flavor, try adding some chopped onions.
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 34g
| Protein: 21g
| Fat: 3g
| Sodium: 1309mg
| Fiber: 10g
| Sugar: 3g
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Originally published: October 2011
Updated & republished: December 2019