Slow Cooker Ham & Beans

That is consolation meals at its best—simple, hearty, and budget-friendly. Soaking the beans in a single day provides them that excellent, tender texture. Then toss all of it within the crockpot and the gradual cooker does all of the give you the results you want. You should utilize packaged diced ham or burn up leftovers. This dish is all about protecting issues easy and scrumptious.

Use our slow cooker ham recipe for leftovers, or attempt our life-changing pulled ham.

This recipe is a complete lifesaver if you want a low-effort meal on a budget. It’s filling and straightforward to alter up to make use of up further veggies you could have available. Serve it up with a slice of cornbread or some crusty bread, and dinner’s completed. It doesn’t get a lot simpler than this!

Ingredient Notes

• Dried Nice Northern Beans: Retaining issues low-cost with dried beans. You possibly can additionally use navy or pinto beans.
• Yellow Onion: Use yellow or white and remember to cube it.
• Celery Ribs: We prefer to cube them to mix in, however you might additionally simply slice them.
• Carrots: As soon as once more, cube them to have them mix in, however you might additionally slice them for bigger chunks.
• Ham: Packaged ham is tremendous handy, however that is additionally an effective way to make use of up leftover ham.
• Rooster Broth: Go for low-sodium rooster broth if you would like extra management over the salt degree which is management over taste. Vegetable broth additionally works.
• Minced Garlic: Freshly minced will all the time provide the finest taste. Jarred minced garlic works too, it simply has a barely bitter taste.
• Bay Leaves: You’ll want to take away them earlier than serving.
• Dried Thyme & Oregano: You possibly can play with the herbs, however that is the combo we like finest.

Ham Choices

Prepackaged Ham: Packaged ham is available in two frequent varieties—cubed and diced. This recipe requires cubed ham because it’s bigger, providing you with greater chunks in each chew. The diced selection may also work within the recipe. Your alternative!

Leftover Ham: Leftover ham is ideal for this dish. Simply cube it into bite-sized items so it blends properly with the beans and veggies.

Ham Steaks: Many grocery shops promote ham steaks, that are single slabs of ham. These are nice if don’t have leftovers available. Merely cube them up earlier than including them to the gradual cooker.

Smoked Sausage Swap: For one thing totally different, attempt smoked sausage like andouille. Simply cube it into small items earlier than tossing it into the gradual cooker for a smoky, barely spicy twist.

The Science of Soaking Beans

Soaking beans in a single day isn’t only a step to melt them. There’s science behind it!

Hydration for Even Cooking: Dried beans are like little sponges. Soaking them permits them to slowly soak up water, which rehydrates the robust outer pores and skin and softens the dense inside. This step ensures your beans prepare dinner evenly within the gradual cooker, stopping any unpleasantly crunchy bites.

Reduces Cooking Time: By pre-soaking your beans, you’re giving the gradual cooker a head begin. Beans that haven’t been soaked can take hours longer to prepare dinner by.

Helps with Bean Bloat: Beans naturally include compounds like phytic acid and oligosaccharides that may trigger a bit of bean bloat. Soaking helps break these down, making the beans simpler in your abdomen.

Cleans the Beans: Throughout soaking, beans launch dust, particles, and impurities, together with substances that trigger foaming throughout cooking. Draining and rinsing soaked beans ensures you’re beginning your recipe with clear beans.

Skipping Soaking Beans

You’ll be able to skip soaking the beans and nonetheless find yourself with a scrumptious pot of ham and beans. Right here’s what you should know:

Fast Soak Possibility: If you happen to’re brief on time, you may quick-soak the beans by boiling them for two minutes and letting them sit in scorching water for 1 hour earlier than draining and rinsing. It’s not as efficient as an in a single day soak, but it surely’s an awesome time-saver!

No Soaking at All: If you happen to skip soaking solely, dried beans will take longer to prepare dinner—plan so as to add an additional 1-2 hours on low within the gradual cooker to ensure they soften correctly.

Rinse Completely: Even in case you skip soaking, all the time rinse the dried beans completely beneath chilly water earlier than utilizing. This step removes dust and particles, so your beans are clear and able to prepare dinner.

Modify the Liquid: Unsoaked beans absorb extra liquid whereas cooking. Control the liquid degree in your gradual cooker and add an additional cup or two of broth as wanted to forestall the dish from drying out.

Serving Ideas

Simply because it’s ham and beans, it doesn’t should be boring! Serve alongside cornbread or any crusty bread from the bakery to take in the flavorful broth. Spoon the ham and beans over steamed white or brown rice to make it much more filling. Add a recent facet of sautéed greens, like spinach. Garnish with recent parsley, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, or perhaps a drizzle of scorching sauce for a spicy kick.