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.

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!

Yield: 1 Pot of Beans

Southern Pinto Beans

Name: Southern Pinto Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 14 h 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Southern United States
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

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

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours

Additional Time 12 hours

Total Time 14 hours 5 minutes

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 Information:

Yield:

24
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 97Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 209mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 6g

Meet Julia

Author of Julia's Simply Southern

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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Donna

Sunday 19th of June 2022

I have a pork hock that's about one pound, is that good for one pound of pintos?

Julia Jordan

Monday 20th of June 2022

Donna, You don't really need that much, so if possible, cut the hock in half and save the rest for something else. ~Julia

Babzy

Friday 2nd of February 2018

Thanks so much :)

Babzy Q

Thursday 1st of February 2018

When soaking beans overnight, do I store them in the fridge or just keep them on the counter for all those hours? Also, what is the least AND the most soaking time I can do? Thanks!

I cover the beans and place them in the refrigerator to soak overnight. You can soak anywhere from 8-24 hours.

Barbara Lovin

Saturday 10th of December 2016

To help de-gas dried beans, add a teaspoon or so of ginger, AND a teaspoon of savory while cooking. Also, sprinkle some baking soda over the beans towards the end of the cooking time and stir. Note: the water will quickly foam, so be ready to stir to keep it from foaming over the top. In addition to helping with the gas, this will also soften the beans if they are still a little hard.

Julia's Simply Southern

Monday 12th of December 2016

Thanks for the tip Barbara

Easy Peasy Life Matters

Saturday 3rd of December 2016

This sounds so amazingly good! Just perfect for a picnic! :)

Monday 5th of December 2016

You can't go wrong with a good pot of beans!