Served with Golden Skillet Cornbread
This meal is pure comfort food — slow-cooked, smoky, rich, and filling. Pinto beans simmered low and slow with smoked ham hocks create a deep, savory broth, perfect for dipping warm cornbread.Grains & Pasta
PINTO BEANS WITH SMOKED HAM HOCKS
🧾 Ingredients
2 lbs dried pinto beans
2 smoked ham hocks (or 3 for extra meat)
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt (add later, ham hocks are salty)
½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 bay leaves
8–10 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions (Slow Cooker Method – Best Flavor)
Sort & Rinse Beans
Pick through beans and rinse well. No soaking required, but you can soak overnight for faster cooking.
Layer the Slow Cooker
Add beans, ham hocks, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and all seasonings except salt.
Add Liquid
Pour in water or broth until beans are covered by about 2 inches.
Cook Low & Slow
LOW: 8–10 hours
HIGH: 5–6 hours
Finish the Beans
Remove ham hocks, shred meat, discard bones and skin.
Return meat to the pot.
Taste & Season
Add salt only if needed. Stir well.
Optional Creamy Finish
Mash a cup of beans and stir back in for thicker, creamier beans.
Serving Tips
Serve hot with cornbread
Add sliced onions or hot sauce on top
Even better the next day!
GOLDEN SKILLET CORNBREAD
Ingredients
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
⅔ cup sugar (adjust to taste)
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup milk or buttermilk
2 large eggs
⅓ cup vegetable oil or melted butter
Instructions
Preheat Oven
400°F (200°C). Place a cast-iron skillet inside to heat.
Mix Dry Ingredients
Cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.
Mix Wet Ingredients
Milk, eggs, oil or butter.
Combine
Stir wet into dry just until combined.
Bake
Grease hot skillet, pour batter in, bake 20–25 minutes until golden.
Optional Add-Ins
Corn kernels
Jalapeños
Cheddar cheese
Why This Meal Is So Loved
Affordable
Feeds a big family
High in protein & fiber
Comfort food at its best
Perfect for cold days or Sunday dinner