Slow Cooker 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!
A CLASSIC APPALACHIAN MEAL
In the mountains of the South, soup beans and ham is a very common meal. It is particularly popular in the regions around the Appalachian Mountains (where I live). Now, it’s not to be confused with bean soup. It refers to pinto or other brown dried beans cooked with smoked pork as flavoring. Soup beans are usually served with cornbread and are considered a main course but can also serve as a side dish.
TIPS FOR MAKING SOUP BEANS:
- This is not a traditional recipe for soup beans. This is my shortcut method. If you want to make them the traditional way, see my homemade Soup Beans recipe.
- Dried beans can be used. Just soak in water overnight and rinse well to remove any rocks, etc. before cooking. You’ll want to add about 2 cups of water when cooking this recipe to compensate.
- Leftover ham is perfect for this recipe. A warm and comforting after-Christmas or after-Easter meal!
- 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 (Bouillon). 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.)
- Feel free to add other flavorings like diced onion and minced garlic.
- I haven’t tried making this in the Instant Pot yet so I am not sure if or how that would work. If you try it – let me know!
- This goes perfect with some cornbread or some Butter Swim Biscuits!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- canned pinto beans
- ham concentrate or ham bouillon
- cubed ham
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT SOUP BEANS AND HAM:
Take all the ingredients and combine in your slow cooker.
Give it all a good stir and cover.
Set on low for about 6-8 hours. Everything in here is already precooked. So you’re really just giving the flavors a chance to meld and for the beans to take on that yummy ham flavor.
Make some cornbread and serve! It’s that easy! A filling and budget-friendly meal.
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Crock Pot Soup Beans and Ham (+Video)
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
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.
Originally published: October 2011
Updated & republished: December 2019
