Related Bean Recipes
Are you a person who loves cooking and experimenting with different flavors in the kitchen? If so, this slow cooked pinto beans with ground beef recipe is for you!
There's nothing quite like the taste and texture of soft, savory pinto beans when they're slowly simmered long enough to reach perfection. Spice things up by adding some sizzling ground beef - it brings out all the deliciousness of these flavorful beans in the most complementary way.
My MaDear made a version of these beans every Sunday, seemed like. She'd cook up a big ole pot and we'd eat the leftovers for about three days straight. You talk about making a stretch meal, this was the one!
Follow this easy-to-make recipe and enjoy comfort food that will stick to your ribs while tantalizing your taste buds at its best. Salt pork, a few simple spices, and bay leaves flavor this dish and make it siiiiing!
What is Salt Pork
Salt pork is a type of preserved pork that has been cured in salt. It is typically made from the belly of the pig, and is heavily salted to prevent spoilage. Salt pork has a very high-fat content and a very salty flavor, and is commonly used as a cooking ingredient to add flavor and moisture to dishes such as stews, soups, and beans. It can be found in the meat section of most grocery stores, or in specialty food shops.
If you've had classic soul vegetables like fried cabbage, braised green beans, etc. odds are you had a nice slab of salt pork. It looks like a big hunk of bacon. It's got that bacon-level flavor too!
Beats and Eats (music to pair with pinto beans)
The Brothers Johnson's "Tomorrow" is a classic throwback jam that is also timeless. It goes hard in any era and is the perfect pairing to any slow cooked pinto beans recipe.
Ingredients Needed To Make This Slow Cooked Pinto Beans Recipe
- Dried pinto beans
- Yellow onion
- Bell Pepper
- Garlic cloves
- Ground Beef Chuck
- Chili powder
- Kosher salt
- Smoked paprika
- Sugar
- Black pepper
- Allspice
- Red pepper flakes
- Stewed tomatoes
- Water or chicken stock
- Bay leaf
- Salt Pork
How To Make This Pinto Beans Recipe (step by step)
Soak the pinto beans overnight in water.
Mix the dry spices together in a small bowl. Set aside.
Heat a large stock pot or dutch oven on medium high heat. Add olive oil and then Brown beef for 3-5 minutes getting rid of any pinkness. Add about a ⅓ of the seasoning as you brown. Remove the beans and drain on a paper towel-lined bowl of plate.
Add the diced onions to the pan and saute in the rendered fat or bacon grease for 2-3 minutes. Add more oil if needed.
Add the bell peppers and garlic plus a ½ of the remaining seasoning mix well with a slotted spoon. Saute for 30 seconds.
Add the salt pork and cook just long enough for it to release flavor about 1 minute.
Add remaining spices, beans, and mix well.
Add tomatoes, browned ground beef mixture, bay leaves, and water. Mix well then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook 3-5 hours depending on preferred consistency.
What To Serve With Pinto Beans
Corn bread would be the #1 answer! I love pinto beans, but oooh wee, pinto beans and corn bread are everything. This is a hearty dish that could serve as a main dish recipe. The cornbread makes this a complete meal. However, I like it as a side dish paired with other soul food classics like smothered green beans, fried pork chops, and a slice of key lime pie.
Cooking Tips, Considerations, and Substitutions
Cooking Tips
- Soak the pinto beans overnight in cold water to help them cook evenly and reduce cooking time.
- Cover the ingredients with water or chicken broth, ensuring that there is enough liquid to fully submerge the beans and meat.
- Cook on low until the beans are tender and at your desired consistency.
- Season as you go. I like adding some of the spices to the ground beef during the browning step as well as later in the process.
- Adjust the seasoning as necessary before serving, and garnish with chopped cilantro or grated cheese if desired.
Considerations
- Cooking pinto beans doesn't require any magical skills. It's just about time and patience to allow the few humble ingredients to gel and come together.
- Be mindful of any hard pebbles you may find when soaking the beans.
- Adjust the chili powder and cayenne pepper up or down depending how bold you want these beans to be.
- I used a homemade seasoning mix, but many old school pinto bean recipes use cajun or creole seasoning
- Don't be in a rush to get these beans done. They get better the slower/longer they cook. Cook pinto beans damn near all day if you feel like it lol.
- My beans were soaked overnight, but there is a quick soaking method that happens by bringing the dry beans to a quick ball, then removing them off heat and allowing them to soak for an hour.
- For a texture play you can remove a cup of cooked pinto beans from the pot, smash them with a potato masher, and then add them back to the pot of beans.
Substitutions
- Black beans, Ranchero or red beans can be substituted for pinto beans in this recipe
- I used Haitian epis seasoning to add a bit of flavor to these beans. It's a great seasoning base for most recipes and I use it with pretty much anything. Salsa verde, chimichurri, sofrito, Caribbean green seasoning all do the same thing and can work. You can also just go without.
- Ham hocks are a good replacement for salt pork as is thick cut smoked bacon.
- Canned stewed tomatoes are perfect for this dish but tomato paste, diced tomatoes, or fresh roma tomatoes taste great in this recipe.
- Beef is the traditional play and adds a lot of flavor. Ground turkey could be substituted if needed but I must say I'm definitely partial to beef.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Cooking Trout
Can these be made in a slow cooker or crock pot?
Yes, pinto beans can be cooked in a slow cooker/crockpot. In fact, slow cooking is an excellent method for cooking pinto beans as it allows them to cook slowly and evenly, resulting in a delicious, creamy texture. Soaking the beans before cooking can further help to reduce cooking time and ensure even cooking.
Key consideration for slow cooker pinto beans - it is important to ensure that they are fully submerged in liquid, such as water or broth, to prevent them from drying out or becoming too tough.
Can this be cooked in an instant pot?
Yes, pinto beans can be cooked in an Instant Pot, and it is actually a very convenient and efficient way to cook them. Using an Instant Pot to cook pinto beans can significantly reduce the cooking time compared to traditional stovetop methods, while still producing delicious, tender beans.
If using dry pinto beans soaking the beans is optional. I do it out of habit, but soaking doesn't impact cooking time as much in a pressure cooker.
Can you use canned beans in this recipe?
You can but I don't recommend it. This is a high flavored recipe and that flavor comes from that long slow simmering. Canned beans won't hold up as well. But if you must go down this path, rinse the beans first to remove the salt and as much of that metallic taste from the can.
What kind of meat goes with pinto beans?
Ground beef is the perfect meat for pinto beans, but as I mentioned earlier, ground turkey could work instead.
What is the best seasoning for beans?
You don't need a lot to season these beans. The salt pork amplifies the flavor in these bad boys. The spices compliment things well. I used equal parts water and chicken stock for my version. But water solo works really well.
Make This Recipe
You can’t go wrong with a classic pinto beans and hamburger meat recipe. This dish is hearty, filling, and packed with flavor. Plus, it’s easy to make! So what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try tonight.
If you make this pinto beans recipe or any other recipe please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.
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Ingredients
For the Beans
- 1 lb bag Dried pinto beans
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground chuck
- 1 chopped yellow or white onion diced
- 4-5 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 Bell pepper
- 1 14.5 can stewed tomatoes
- 5-6 cups water or stock (low sodium) make sure beans are covered.
- ¼ cup haitian epis seasoning optional
- Bay leaf
- Salt Pork
For the Spice Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoons of sugar
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
For the Spices
- Mix the dry spices together in a small bowl. Set aside.
For the Beans
- Soak the beans overnight in water.
- Heat a large stock pot or dutch oven on medium heat. Add olive oil and then Brown beef for 3-5 minutes getting rid of any pinkness. Add about a ⅓ of the seasoning as you brown. Remove the beans and drain on a paper towel-lined bowl of plate.
- Add the diced onions to the pan and saute in the rendered fat for 2-3 minutes. Add more oil if needed.
- Add the bell peppers and garlic plus a ½ of the remaining seasoning mix. Saute for 30 seconds.
- Add the salt pork and cook just long enough for it to release flavor about 1 minute.
- Add remaining spices, beans, and mix well.
- Add tomatoes, cooked ground beef, bay leaves, and water. Mix well then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook 3-5 hours depending on preferred consistency.
Jenny
Monday 20th of February 2023
I love your take on beans. Very original and looks delicious. Trying new ideas, especially for food, is my kind of thing. Thanks so much for your recipe.
Debbie
Sunday 19th of February 2023
Thank you for sharing this old school Pinto Beans recipe , this is just like my mom made and it brought back wonderful memories. My husband has already asked when I was making it again.
Natalia
Sunday 19th of February 2023
This is the best recipe for beans! I didn't use meat because I don't normally eat it and the flavor was amazing. This is the recipe I will be using from now on! Thanks for sharing!
amy liu dong
Sunday 19th of February 2023
I love this bean recipe. It is so easy and delicious! A dish that you can eat any time of the day!
Loreto and Nicoletta
Sunday 19th of February 2023
We love beans of any variety, and pinto beans are so scrumptious, especially with the salt pork