Total time
60 min
Servings
1
Calories
509.4
Category
Soups & Stews
Discover the ultimate comfort food with this hearty Ham and Beans recipe, a one-dish meal that combines smoky ham, tender beans, and aromatic spices. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends, this easy-to-make dish delivers rich flavor with minimal effort. Packed with protein and slow-cooked to perfection, it's a satisfying meal that will warm you from the inside out.
Ingredients
Makes 1 serving
- 2 1/2 dried pink beans
- 2 pinto beans
- 2 bacon fat
- 1 ham bone
- 3 onion
- 2 -4 garlic cloves
- 1 chicken broth
- 2 bay leaf
- 1 1/2 ground cumin
- 1/2 dried oregano
- 1 cayenne
- salt
Method
Soak beans overnight or cover with water and bring to boil and simmer for 2 minutes.
Turn off heat and let stand for one hour. Then drain off all liquid.
Melt bacon fat in a 5 quart pot and add chiles, onions, garlic, oregano and cumin. Saute til soft about 5 minutes.
Add drained beans, broth, water can be used instead of the broth, but I use 4c broth, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat and simmer til beans are tender or about 2 hours. Add cooked ham.
After cooking, add salt and cayenne and remove the bay leaf. More salt can be added according to your taste.
Cook's notes
- Soak beans overnight for best texture and reduced cooking time.
- Use a ham bone with plenty of meat left on for deeper flavor.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to control spiciness—start with a pinch and add more to taste.
- For a thicker broth, mash some beans against the pot before serving.
Easy swaps
- Instead of dried pink beans, use dried red kidney beans or great northern beans
- Instead of bacon fat, use olive oil or vegetable oil
- Instead of chicken broth, use vegetable broth or water with an extra bay leaf
- Instead of ham bone, use smoked ham hock or diced cooked ham
Frequently asked
Can I use canned beans instead of dried?
Yes, but skip the soaking step. Use 3 cans of beans (rinsed and drained) and reduce simmering time to 20–30 minutes.
What if I don’t have a ham bone?
Use a smoked ham hock or add 1–2 cups of diced cooked ham to the pot during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Absolutely. Soak beans first, then sauté aromatics in bacon fat. Transfer everything to a slow cooker with broth and ham bone. Cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
Why are my beans still hard after 2 hours?
Beans from different harvests can vary in age. Older beans take longer to soften. Simmer an additional 30–60 minutes or until tender.
