Easy Recipes: Slow Cooker Ham and Beans (Crock Pot Comfort)
This slow cooker ham and beans is one of our favorite easy recipes for cozy nights. Perfect for dinner recipes and hearty recipes for dinner, it’s set-and-forget comfort. No, it’s not a chicken stirfry easy recipe or an easy recipes ninja creami treat—just rustic flavor that rivals cheesey potatoes easy recipe vibes and butter swim biscuits easy…
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450 g) dried great northern beans, rinsed and picked over
- 1 meaty ham bone or 2 cups diced cooked ham
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 2 sprigs fresh)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 6 to 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water (as needed to cover)
- Salt, to taste (add at the end)
- Optional: 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Optional for serving: chopped parsley, hot sauce, crusty bread
Instructions
- Soak beans overnight in plenty of water, then drain and rinse (or quick-soak per package).
- Add beans, ham bone or diced ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, pepper, and broth to a 5–6 quart slow cooker. Liquid should cover beans by 1 inch.
- Cook on LOW 8–10 hours (or HIGH 4–5) until beans are tender.
- If using a bone, remove it, shred any meat, and return meat to the pot. Discard bay leaf.
- For a creamier texture, mash a cup of beans against the side of the crock and stir back in.
- Taste and season with salt and more pepper. Stir in smoked paprika if using.
- Serve warm with parsley and hot sauce; add crusty bread or cornbread on the side.