As a child of the South, it is easy to say I grew up with a lot of traditional Southern foods and county cooking. One of those common foods that was not only a favorite of my Dad, but a great way for my Mom to make our family budget stretch farther. Sadly, as a kid I hated them. I thought they were yucky. In fact, I often thought the ones I ate were mushy and tasted like dirt. Sorry Mom, I didn't like them much back then. As an adult, I have come to love my Crockpot Pinto Beans. Not only is the flavor totally different, they are so much easier than the version I grew up seeing on the dinner table.
While it is common in the South to add some meat like bacon or ham to flavor your beans, I tend to avoid that and rely more on the herbs and seasonings I include in mine. This als cuts back on the unnecessary calories. Whether you are using an actual CrockPot or other variety of Slow Cooker, you will find this method is going to save you time and money. Slow cooking dry beans is a great way to add money back into your food budget. We use these as stand alone dish, a side with other classic Southern Foods or mashed and seasoned with Mexican entrees or in burritos. When I make a large batch, I often end up throwing tomatoes, ground turkey and some veggies in to make an easy pot of chilli too!
CROCKPOT PINTO BEANS
- 1 Pound Dry Organic Pinto Beans
- 3 Cups Water
- 3 Cups Low Sodium Fat Free Chicken or Vegetable Broth
- ½ Medium Onion Diced
- 2 Cloves Minced Garlic
- 2 Teaspoons Dried Parsley
- 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Sage
- 2 Teaspoons Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- Place all ingredients into Crockpot or Slow Cooker and stir.
- Cook on low heat for 6-7 hours.
- For Mexican Style Add: Teaspoon Chili Powder, Teaspoons Cumin. Bunch Fresh Cilantro, Chopped
Even if you don't like traditional Southern Country Cooking ,these Crockpot Pinto Beans will still be a hit in your house. Pinto beans are a great addition to chilli or taco soup. They are also great when mashed and seasoned inside a con or flour tortilla for a simple, low cost and tasty burrito. Slice some veggies and roast or sauté to go alongside them for a high protein yet low calorie meal everyone will love.
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