SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (2024)

by Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) · Updated

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This Pinto Beans Recipe with Ham Hocks is a true Southern comfort food delicacy! Dried pinto beans are soaked, then simmered with meaty ham hocks and flavors galore reaching tender thick perfection! They make a hearty meal that’s perfect to indulge in as the temperature dips. Southern pinto beans are made with simple ingredients and cooking them is mostly hands-off leaving you time to work on other things!

SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (1)

This is one of those dishes that reminds me of my childhood. I can still smell the aroma of pinto beans cooking on the stove and recall the taste of them with a buttered piece of cornbread for dipping!

If you’re used to relying on canned beans, these homemade, cooked from scratch pinto beans are something completely different! Cooking them on the stove gives them plenty of time to soak of up all the flavors from the ham bone and the seasonings in the broth.

This is truly the best country meal, just like butter beans or black-eyed peas, you will ever have!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love These Southern Pinto Beans

  • Hearty, comforting, and delicious. A long-simmered pot of pinto beans simply warms the soul.
  • Perfect texture. They’re cooked until nice and tender, with an almost creamy consistency.
  • Easy to make ahead. Beans are perfect for the freezer! So make a double batch to enjoy later on and save yourself time in the future!
  • Perfect for serving a crowd. Need an easy meal to feed a group of people? This is it! A bag of beans easily serves 6-8.
  • Budget-friendly. Even with the ham hock, making pinto beans from scratch are a way to save money at the grocery store.

Ingredients to Make Pinto Beans

Making pinto beans and ham requires only a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients to prepare. Here’s what you will need:

  • Pinto beans: Any brand will work but make sure they haven’t been on the shelf or in your cabinet for too long. Beans are shelf stable but the longer they sit around the longer they take to cook.
  • Chicken stock: Creates a rich, more flavorful broth than using water on its own.
  • Onion: This simple aromatic flavors the broth as the beans cook slowly on the stove.
  • Smoked ham hock: You can find these in the meat section at most grocery stores. They have a bit of meat on them which you can pull off after cooking but really they infuse the beans with a smoky, meaty flavor that’s irresistible.
  • Herbs and spices: All you need are bay leaves, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt to season your pinto beans and ham.
SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (2)

How to Make Pinto Beans

Aside from soaking, the rest of the cooking process is a breeze. Here’s a look at the highlights:

  1. Throw the beans in a pot along with an onion, smoked ham hocks (the key ingredient), a couple of bay leaves (optional), and some liquid (I used a combo of chicken stock and water).
  2. Cook until they’re tender at which point the halved onion bulbs are practically melted into the cooking liquid and the entire pot is full of flavor from the smoked ham hock and bay leaves.
  3. Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix them up and then taste to adjust any seasonings to your own tastes.
SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (3)

Tips for Making the Best Pinto Beans and Ham

  1. Cook just above a simmer for a creamier texture. This amount of heat causes some of the beans to break down, adding more body to the liquid and giving the dish more creaminess.
  2. Don’t forget the meat on the ham hocks. After cooking you can pick the meat from the bones to stir into the beans for you and your guests to enjoy the full flavor.
  3. Sort your beans. You’re looking for any beans that are shriveled, super dark, or otherwise appear off. You should also be on the lookout for any small rocks or other inedible debris that might have found its way into the bag.
  4. Soak your beans. It’s important for more even cooking and also better for digestion.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

  • Swap the ham hocks in this pinto beans recipe for smoked turkey wings instead. Make sure they are nice and meaty.
  • Vegetarian: If you prefer to make vegetarian pinto beans you can skip the ham hock and use vegetable broth instead. You may want to increase the seasonings at the end and consider adding some smoked paprika or liquid smoke if you want a smoky flavor.
  • No broth? It’s ok, you can also cook your beans in all water. I just find the broth gives them more flavor.
  • Use ham bones instead of hocks. I find the hocks are more flavorful and smoky but if you have a leftover ham bone, don’t let it go to waste and use it to flavor your pinto beans.
SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (4)

What to Serve With Southern Pinto Beans

  • Cornbread is perfect for ladling these hearty, flavorful beans over the top! Try it with brown butter honey cornbread, hot water cornbread, or this sweet potato cornbread.
  • Serve your juicy pinto beans over rice for a homemade pinto beans and rice bowl.
  • Add a spread of other classic Southern dishes such as chicken gizzards, corn muffins, and a pot of collard greens or mustard greens for a down-home meal you will absolutely love.
  • Don’t forget a Southern dessert such as peach cobbler or cream cheese pound cake.

How to Store & Reheat Pinto Beans

Cool the beans completely and then transfer them to an airtight container to store in the fridge or freezer. To reheat, thaw them out in the fridge overnight and then put them in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until heated through.

How long will pinto beans last in the fridge?

When cooled and stored properly, cooked beans will last about four days in the fridge.

Can I freeze pinto beans and ham?

Yes, of course! Just be sure to put them in a freezer-safe container and you can store them in the freezer for up to three months.

SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (5)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to soak pinto beans?

In my personal opinion, it’s best to soak beans at least overnight, or 8-12 hours. Soaking dried beans leads to a shorter cooking time and makes them easier to digest. In my research, you can cook them without soaking them first if you wish, but be prepared for them to take longer to cook (various sources say it could take anywhere from a few extra minutes to a couple of hours).

Is there a faster way to soak beans?

If you forget to soak them overnight, you can use the quick soak method. Pour hot boiling water over the top of your beans and let them sit for an hour. The beans will absorb some of the liquid and plump up as they sit. Just note they may need to cook slightly longer than beans soaked overnight.

Can I make pinto beans in the crockpot?

I love to cook pinto beans the more traditional way on the stove. But, occasionally, when I’m short on time or energy I will take a shortcut and bust out the slow cooker. I won’t lie, you will lose a bit of flavor this way but it’s still gonna be delicious! To make southern-style pinto beans in a crock pot, add all of the ingredients to the pot and stir until fully combined. Cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until the ham is tender and falling apart.

SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (6)

These hearty pinto beans with tiny bits of ham and a rich broth are comfort food in a bowl! Since they cook up mostly hands-off or can easily be made ahead of time, they’re perfect for busy weeknights.

If you’re looking for a definite crowd-pleaser for cooler days, this pinto bean recipe is it!

More Bean Recipes

  • Southern Baked Beans
  • Red Beans and Rice
  • Jamaican Rice and Peas
  • Chipotle Black Bean Tortilla Soup

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!

SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (7)

The BEST Southern Pinto Beans

This Pinto Beans Recipe with Ham Hocks is a true Southern Comfort Food delicacy. Dried pinto beans are soaked then simmered with meaty ham hocks and flavors galore reaching tender thick perfection. This is truly the best country meal you will ever have!

4.37 from 193 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: soul food, south, Southern

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 servings

Calories: 79kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 (11 ounce) package pinto beans picked through and soaked in lots of water overnight
  • 1 quart chicken stock
  • 1 quart water
  • 1 onion halved or roughly chopped
  • 2 halves smoked ham hock (about ¾ pound total)
  • 2 bay leaves optional
  • 1 tsp black pepper plus more to taste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder plus more to taste
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Add the soaked beans, chicken stock, water, onion, ham hocks, and bay leaves (if using) to a large stock pot.

  • Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover with a lid, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are nice and tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

  • Season with pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Serve.

Notes

This recipe used the entire package of beans I purchased and makes a large quantity, but can be scaled for smaller amounts.

Also you can replace the ham hocks in this recipe with smoked turkey instead.

Cook just above a simmer for a creamier texture. This amount of heat causes some of the beans to break down, adding more body to the liquid and giving the dish more creaminess.

Don’t forget the meat on the ham hocks. After cooking you can pick the meat from the bones to stir into the beans for you and your guests to enjoy the full flavor.

Sort your beans. You’re looking for any beans that are shriveled, super dark, or otherwise appear off. You should also be on the lookout for any small rocks or other inedible debris that might have found its way into the bag.

Soak your beans. It’s important for more even cooking and also better for digestion.

Nutrition

Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 129mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

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SOUTHERN PINTO BEANS WITH HAM HOCKS- (Just like Grandma's recipe)! (2024)

FAQs

Should ham hock be soaked before cooking? ›

meat in a ham hock that is very tasty, but there is also a lot of high quality fat, collagen and cartilage that melt away and add lip-smacking savoriness to your dish. Ham hocks are usually sold pre-cooked, and often smoked. If you get a smoked hock you may want to soak it overnight to get rid of some of the saltiness.

How do you thicken pinto beans and ham? ›

I like my juices thick with my beans, therefore in a separate bowl I added 1/4 cup of cornstarch or flour and 1/4 cup of water to make a thickening paste. Then, slowly add your thickening paste to the boiling beans and ham. Be sure to stir as you add it in.

What is a ham hock called in a grocery store? ›

A ham hock, sometimes called pork knuckle, is the joint between the tibia and fibula and the metatarsals of a pig's foot where the foot was attached to the hog's leg.

How long does it take to boil a ham hock? ›

Put the ham hock ingredients into a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Simmer gently for 2-4 hours (hocks vary in size enormously, mine took just over 2 hours), skimming off the frothy scum from time to time, until the meat is really tender and begins to fall from the bone. Allow to cool in the stock.

What is the best cooking method for hock? ›

Use braised, smoked, or raw ham hocks to make a delicious comforting dish with wonderfully tender meat and fantastic flavor. The key to phenomenal ham hocks is to crisp them up then let them braise in broth in the oven for a few hours. The result will be perfectly cooked ham hocks every time.

Do you take skin off ham hock before making soup? ›

Once the ham hock is cooked, remove it from the pot or slow cooker and set it aside to cool slightly. Discard any excess fat or skin, and separate the meat from the bone. Shred or chop the meat into bite-sized pieces, and return it to the pot or slow cooker along with your favorite soup ingredients.

Do you cook pinto beans covered or uncovered? ›

Bring the pot to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer, cover, and cook for 2 hours. Cook Until Tender and Seasoned: After 2 hours, check the pinto beans. Their texture should be creamy and tender.

Why do you add sugar to beans? ›

The sugar absorbs some of the water, slowing how fast the beans dissolve, and the calcium molecules reinforce the cell walls by linking together with the pectin.

How do I get my beans creamy? ›

Pour one can of pinto beans, including the liquid in the can, into a high-speed blender then blend until smooth and creamy and set aside. Drain then rinse the second can of pinto beans and set aside. Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a small pan over medium heat.

Are ham hocks healthy? ›

Ham hock is high in protein, but also brings with it a share of fat, saturated fat, so should therefore be eaten in moderation. In terms of minerals, ham hock also contains sodium and potassium.

Why is my ham hock tough? ›

Because this cut of meat is from the joint on the trotter, or foot of the pig, it is tough, with most of the ham hock comprised of skin, bone, fat, and collagen.

What do you call the stock made from ham hocks? ›

Ham stock, common in Cajun cooking, is made from ham hocks. Master stock is a Chinese stock used primarily for poaching meats, flavored with soy sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, and other aromatics. Prawn stock is made from boiling prawn shells.

Do you boil ham hocks covered or uncovered? ›

Let the ham hocks simmer for 2 to 4 hours.

You can leave the pot uncovered, or cover it with a lid if you want the ham hocks to cook faster. If you do cover the pot, check on it every 30 minutes or so to make sure that the water stays at a simmer and doesn't begin to boil over the sides.

Do you cover ham hocks when boiling? ›

Cover the pot partially, allowing some steam to escape. This will help concentrate the flavors and prevent the water from boiling over. Let the ham hocks simmer for approximately 2-3 hours, or until the meat is tender and starts to separate from the bones.

How much water do you use to boil ham hocks? ›

Typically I make a broth, one quart water to each hock and it takes 4 hours. I'd like as much water as possible and usually add more water to come up to two quarts for the two hocks I need to cook.

How long should you soak a ham hock? ›

Soak out the salt: Soaking the ham hocks in cold water for at least half an hour or more before cooking them will help draw out excess sodium so they don't overwhelm your palate with salt. Go low sodium: If you plan on braising your smoked ham hocks, use a low sodium broth or the salty taste may be too much.

Is it best to soak ham before cooking? ›

This process also keeps the ham nice and pink when it's cooked. Before you cook a brined gammon, it's a good idea to soak it in cold water overnight, to wash away some of the excess salt. Alternatively, pop it in a deep pot, cover with water, bring to the boil and poach it for half an hour or so.

How do you soak a ham hock? ›

The day before, soak the ham hocks in water overnight in the fridge, to draw out some of the salt (they may have already been soaked by the butcher, so check first). The next day, drain the hocks and pat them dry.

How long does it take for a ham hock to fall apart? ›

Cover and cook at a bare simmer until hocks are very tender, 2 to 3 hours. Remove ham hocks from liquid, transfer to a cutting board, and pull bones from meaty and fatty parts.

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