In this post I’ll be sharing a classic Southern Pinto Beans Recipe.

In the south, pinto beans aren’t just used as a side dish, they can be the whole meal. I love a bowl of pintos with fresh chopped onion sprinkled on top and a slice of cornbread. Add a side of pan fried potatoes and my oh my, that is some good eating y’all!

Dry beans are very economical. Leftovers are delicious or you can use them to create a new dish. You can add meat, such as ham pieces or sliced smoked sausage as variations. Use leftovers in a pot of chili or mash them up and make refried beans. Some people even add chopped vegetables during cooking such as celery and onion.

Table of Contents

Pinto Beans and Ham

Ingredients

1 lb Dry Pinto Beans
4 c Water, for soaking
Ham Hock, Salt Pork, or Bacon Pieces (to flavor beans during cooking)
4-6 c Water or Stock, for cooking
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper

How to Season Beans

How to Cook Pintos on the Stove

Sort through beans to make sure that they are free of any small stones, dirt, or other foreign pieces that may have made their way into the beans during harvesting.

Give the beans a rinse, add to a bowl and cover with 4 cups of water. Soak the beans overnight.

Discard the water used for soaking and give the beans a rinse.

Add beans to a stock pot along with 4 cups of water, or stock for extra flavor, and ham hock. You can use salt pork or bacon pieces for flavor as well if you prefer. Add extra liquid to the beans as they cook if needed.

Simmer beans over a medium heat for 2 hours or until desired tenderness.

At the end of cooking time, season with salt and pepper. Other seasonings can be used to taste if desired such as cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder to add the flavors you enjoy.

Best Pinto Beans Recipe

A bowl of pinto beans with a cake of cornbread

See it at:
Meal Plan Monday
Weekend Potluck

blue and white bowl with pinto beans on a red and white tablecloth

Let’s make this Southern Pinto Beans Recipe!

4.24 from 13 votes

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Southern Pinto Beans

Classic Southern pinto beans with seasoning meat cooked on the stove top. Enjoy pinto beans as a meal or as a side dish.

Prep Time5

Cook Time2

Additional Time12

Total Time14 5

Servings: Pot of Beans

Calories: 97kcal

Author: Julia Jordan | Julia’s Simply Southern

Ingredients

1 lb Dry Pinto Beans
4 c Water for soaking
Ham Hock Salt Pork, or Bacon Pieces (to flavor beans during cooking)
4-6 c Water or Stock for cooking
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

Sort through beans to make sure that they are free of any small stones, dirt, or other foreign pieces that may have made their way into the beans during harvesting.
Give the beans a rinse, add to a bowl and cover with 4 cups of water. Soak the beans overnight.
Discard the water used for soaking and give the beans a rinse.
Add beans to a stock pot along with 4 cups of water, or stock for extra flavor, and ham hock. You can use salt pork or bacon pieces for flavor as well if you prefer. Add extra liquid to the beans as they cook if needed.
Simmer beans over a medium heat for 2 hours or until desired tenderness.
At the end of cooking time, season with salt and pepper. Other seasonings can be used to taste if desired such as cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder to add the flavors you enjoy.

Nutrition

Julia - author and publisher of Julia's Simply Southern Food Blog Recipes

About Julia

Hey Y’all! I’m Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia’s Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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