Learn how to make crockpot pinto beans and ham slow-cooked to perfection with tender beans and juicy chunks of ham. Grab the biggest ladle you can find for a generous heaping bowl of pinto beans with ham. Serve alongside piping hot cornbread for a true southern experience!

I grew up on this pinto beans and ham recipe and it is comfort food for the soul. My mother would make a huge pot and there were always leftovers the next day. She called it a poor man’s dinner because it was and still is a cheap dinner.
You dump in all the ingredients, set it, and forget it. The beans and ham are fork-tender after cooking on high for 5 hours.
Using a crock pot is not the fastest way to cook Pinto Beans, but honestly, it beats the instant pot in the flavor department every time. If you are short on time, try my instant pot pinto beans and ham recipe variation.
If you love pinto beans and ham you have to try my Slow Cooker White Beans and Sausage recipe or slow cooker sirloin steak.
Do I need to Soak my Beans?
I don’t soak my beans overnight. I rinse the pinto beans and dump them straight into the slow cooker.

Ingredient Highlight: Ham versus Ham Hocks
Traditionally Ham Hocks were tossed into the pot of Pinto Beans for flavor from the bone. But there is hardly any meat on the ham hooks and I prefer a more meaty pot of pinto beans.
You can change the recipe and add ham hocks instead of chopped ham steak. But if you are like me and love tender chunks of ham in your pinto beans. Ham steak is the way to go. There are bone-in ham steaks or boneless ham steaks you can buy. I use the bone-in ham steaks for my pot beans.
Top Tips for Pinto Beans with Ham
- Instead of water, I use chicken broth. It gives the beans a great flavor. If you can get your broth to taste good, your beans will taste good.
- Make sure everything is submerged in the broth. If not, add a little more until just covered. Beans not covered may cook unevenly and remain hard.
- For the creamiest texture and richest flavor, cooking on High heat for 5 hours gives the best balance between texture and taste. Low is fine, but can sometimes leave the beans slightly firmer if not checked properly.

How to Make Crock Pot Pinto Beans and Ham
Prep the Ingredients
Start by rinsing your dried pinto beans thoroughly under cool water. You don’t need to soak them overnight—just a good rinse is enough to remove any dust or debris. Next, dice your onion and garlic, and cube your ham steak.
Load the Crock Pot
Place the rinsed pinto beans in your slow cooker. Layer the chopped onions, garlic, and cubed ham steak over the beans. Sprinkle in the ground cumin, oregano, and black pepper. Pour in the chicken broth—enough to cover the beans and meat completely. This broth is essential to flavoring the beans from the inside out.
Cook Low and Slow (Or Fast and Flavorful)
Set your slow cooker to High for 5 hours. This setting gives you tender beans and juicy ham in a manageable timeframe. If you’re planning to leave the dish unattended all day, set it to Low for 8–9 hours instead. Just make sure you don’t open the lid unnecessarily. That will release heat and extend the cooking time.
Check for Doneness
After finished, your pinto beans should be soft and fork-tender. If they still have a bite to them, continue cooking in 30-minute increments and check again.
Serving Suggestions
Ladle the beans and ham into bowls for a comforting main dish. Pair with a slice of sweet Southern-style Cornbread or serve as part of a veggie plate alongside fried cabbage, collards, sweet potatoes, green beans, and fried okra.

How to Store Leftover Crock Pot Pinto Beans
Transfer leftovers into an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
If you have enough space in your refrigerator and your crock comes out of the heating unit you can place it directly in your refrigerator. Just allow the crock pot to cool before putting it in the refrigerator.
Transfer into a freezer-safe bag or container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Crock Pot Pinto Beans
Crock Pot Pinto Beans and Ham. Pinto Beans slow cook for 5 hours and are perfectly flavored and tender.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried pinto beans, rinsed
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 pound ham steak , cubed
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 48 ounces chicken broth, add more if needed to cover beans and ham.
Instructions
- Place beans in your crock pot or slow cooker.
- Add onion, garlic, ham, cumin, oregano, and black pepper.
- Add the chicken broth. Add more if needed to cover the beans and ham.
- Cook on high for 5 hours. Beans will be tender. Cook longer if needed.
Notes
1. We make chicken broth using Better than Bouillon Chicken Base.
2. Serve crock pot pinto beans with sweet cornbread.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 145Total Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 295mgCarbohydrates: 16gSugar: 2gProtein: 14g