Thursday, January 30, 2025
HomeCookingSluggish Cooker Ham & Beans

Sluggish Cooker Ham & Beans


That is consolation meals at its most interesting—simple, hearty, and budget-friendly. Soaking the beans in a single day offers them that excellent, tender texture. Then toss all of it within the crockpot and the gradual cooker does all of the be just right for you. You should use packaged diced ham or dissipate leftovers. This dish is all about holding issues easy and scrumptious.

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

Why Our Recipe

  • Easy prep with soaked beans and packaged diced ham or leftover ham.
  • Set it and neglect it—simply prep and let your gradual cooker deal with the remaining.
  • Consolation meals dinner that’s as budget-friendly as it’s scrumptious.

An overhead view of a slow cooker crock full of ham and beans.

This recipe is a complete lifesaver whenever 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’ve 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

An overhead shot of ingredients for Slow Cooker Ham Beans.An overhead shot of ingredients for Slow Cooker Ham Beans.
  • Dried Nice Northern Beans: Conserving issues low-cost with dried beans. You could possibly 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 can additionally simply slice them.
  • Carrots: As soon as once more, cube them to have them mix in, however you 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 hen broth if you’d like extra management over the salt degree which is management over taste. Vegetable broth additionally works.
  • Minced Garlic: Freshly minced will at all times provide the greatest taste. Jarred minced garlic works too, it simply has a barely bitter taste.
  • Bay Leaves: You should definitely take away them earlier than serving.
  • Dried Thyme & Oregano: You could possibly play with the herbs, however that is the combo we like greatest.

Ham Choices

Prepackaged Ham: Packaged ham is available in two widespread varieties—cubed and diced. This recipe requires cubed ham because it’s bigger, supplying you with larger chunks in each chew. The diced selection will even 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 completely 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 take in water, which rehydrates the robust 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 means of.

Helps with Bean Bloat: Beans naturally comprise compounds like phytic acid and oligosaccharides that may trigger somewhat 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.

An overhead view of a white bowl filled with ham and beans made in the slow cooker.An overhead view of a white bowl filled with ham and beans made in the slow cooker.

Skipping Soaking Beans

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

Fast Soak Choice: When you’re brief on time, you possibly can quick-soak the beans by boiling them for two minutes and letting them sit in sizzling 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 fully, 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, at all times 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.

Regulate the Liquid: Unsoaked beans take in extra liquid whereas cooking. Regulate 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 must be boring! Serve alongside cornbread or any crusty bread from the bakery to absorb 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 sautĂ©ed greens, like spinach. Garnish with recent parsley, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, or perhaps a drizzle of sizzling 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 means of.

Reheat on the stovetop in a saucepan over medium-low, stirring often, till warmed by means of.

Extra methods to eat beans…

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