That is consolation meals at its most interesting—straightforward, 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 use packaged diced ham or dissipate leftovers. This dish is all about retaining issues easy and scrumptious.
Use our slow cooker ham recipe for leftovers, or strive our life-changing pulled ham.
Why Our Recipe
- Easy prep with soaked beans and packaged diced ham or leftover ham.
- Set it and overlook it—simply prep and let your gradual cooker deal with the remaining.
- Consolation meals dinner that’s as budget-friendly as it’s scrumptious.

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


- Dried Nice Northern Beans: Retaining issues low cost with dried beans. You might additionally use navy or pinto beans.
- Yellow Onion: Use yellow or white and you’ll want to cube it.
- Celery Ribs: We prefer to cube them to mix in, however you possibly can additionally simply slice them.
- Carrots: As soon as once more, cube them to have them mix in, however you possibly can 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.
- Hen Broth: Go for low-sodium rooster broth if you’d like extra management over the salt stage 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: Be sure you take away them earlier than serving.
- Dried Thyme & Oregano: You might play with the herbs, however that is the combo we like finest.
Ham Choices
Prepackaged Ham: Packaged ham is available in two widespread varieties—cubed and diced. This recipe requires cubed ham because it’s bigger, providing you with greater chunks in each chew. The diced selection can even work within the recipe. Your selection!
Leftover Ham: Leftover ham is ideal for this dish. Simply cube it into bite-sized items so it blends nicely 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, strive 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 take in water, which rehydrates the powerful outer pores and skin and softens the dense inside. This step ensures your beans cook 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 cook dinner by.
Helps with Bean Bloat: Beans naturally include compounds like phytic acid and oligosaccharides that may trigger slightly bean bloat. Soaking helps break these down, making the beans simpler in your abdomen.
Cleans the Beans: Throughout soaking, beans launch grime, 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 it’s worthwhile to know:
Fast Soak Choice: When you’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 ideal time-saver!
No Soaking at All: When you skip soaking solely, dried beans will take longer to cook 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 when you skip soaking, all the time rinse the dried beans totally below chilly water earlier than utilizing. This step removes grime and particles, so your beans are clear and able to cook dinner.
Alter the Liquid: Unsoaked beans take in extra liquid whereas cooking. Regulate the liquid stage in your gradual cooker and add an additional cup or two of broth as wanted to forestall the dish from drying out.
Serving Solutions
Simply because it’s ham and beans, it doesn’t need to 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 aspect 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.
Storage & Reheating Directions
Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Freeze in an hermetic container or freezer bag for as much as 3 months.That within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
Reheat within the microwave with particular person parts in a microwave-safe bowl. Cowl and warmth on excessive in 30-second increments, stirring between, till warmed by.
Reheat on the stovetop in a saucepan over medium-low, stirring often, till warmed by.
Extra methods to eat beans…
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