Slow Cooker Ham & Beans

That is consolation meals at its best—straightforward, 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 sluggish cooker does all of the be just right for you. You need to use packaged diced ham or deplete leftovers. This dish is all about preserving issues easy and scrumptious.

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

This recipe is a complete lifesaver whenever 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’ve gotten readily available. Serve it up with a slice of cornbread or some crusty bread, and dinner’s accomplished. It doesn’t get a lot simpler than this!

Ingredient Notes

• Dried Nice Northern Beans: Maintaining issues low-cost with dried beans. You may additionally use navy or pinto beans.
• Yellow Onion: Use yellow or white and be sure you cube it.
• Celery Ribs: We wish to cube them to mix in, however you could possibly additionally simply slice them.
• Carrots: As soon as once more, cube them to have them mix in, however you could possibly 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 need 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 greatest 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 may play with the herbs, however that is the combo we like greatest.

Ham Choices

Prepackaged Ham: Packaged ham is available in two frequent varieties—cubed and diced. This recipe requires cubed ham because it’s bigger, supplying you with larger chunks in each chunk. The diced selection will 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 readily available. Merely cube them up earlier than including them to the sluggish 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 sluggish 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 up water, which rehydrates the robust outer pores and skin and softens the dense inside. This step ensures your beans cook dinner evenly within the sluggish cooker, stopping any unpleasantly crunchy bites.

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

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 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 may 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 Choice: For those who’re quick on time, you’ll be able to 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, however it’s a fantastic time-saver!

No Soaking at All: For those who skip soaking completely, dried beans will take longer to cook dinner—plan so as to add an additional 1-2 hours on low within the sluggish cooker to ensure they soften correctly.

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

Alter the Liquid: Unsoaked beans absorb extra liquid whereas cooking. Regulate the liquid degree in your sluggish cooker and add an additional cup or two of broth as wanted to stop the dish from drying out.

Serving Recommendations

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 absorb the flavorful broth. Spoon the ham and beans over steamed white or brown rice to make it much more filling. Add a contemporary aspect of sautéed greens, like spinach. Garnish with contemporary parsley, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, or perhaps a drizzle of scorching sauce for a spicy kick.