How to Cook Pinto Beans the Southern Way

Hey Y’all!

If there is a nip in the air, here in South Carolina. I think that it’s a sign from God, for me to make pinto beans. There is nothing like a big pot of hearty and meaty beans. Jennifer, calls me country because I just love to eat beans. I can’t help it, I’m a true Southerner. Since the weather is slowly changing, I decided to cook a pot of pinto beans.

I always try to keep a bag of dried beans in the house, I guess it’s just a Southern thing. I had some ham in the freezer and this made me extremely happy.  So let’s get cooking y’all!

As always before we start cooking, we’ll need a list of ingredients.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Pinto Beans and Ham

-1 Bag of Pinto Beans

-Spiral Ham

– 8-10 cups of water

-1/4 Cup of cornstarch

-1/4 Cup of water

How to Prepare Pinto Beans for Cooking

How to Prepare Pinto Beans

First, I’m going to open my beans and pour them into a colander.

How to wash pinto beans to cook

Once, my  beans are in the colander, I’m going to rinse them to remove any foreign items…lol.

Cooking the Pinto Beans

Boiling water for beans

Since, I’m making a large pot of beans I’m going to need about 8-10 cups of water. You’ll want to make sure that your beans are completely covered with water.

How to cook Pinto Beans

Then, I’m going to add my beans to the water.

Then, bring the beans to a boil take them off  the heat. Allow them to sit for about an hour. 

How to Cook Pinto Beans

When they have finished sitting, you will drain them again.

How to Prepare Pinto Beans for Cooking How to Prepare Pinto Beans for Cooking

Drain and rinse your beans in your colander.

Adding the Ham to the Beans

How to Cook Pinto Beans

Add another 8-10 cups of fresh water, ham, and seasonings. I just use a little pepper, because I want to get all the flavor from the ham. I didn’t use any salt, because the ham is salty enough. Be sure to taste before adding any salt. Feel free to use whatever seasonings you prefer.

Pinto Beans

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. Cover with lid and allow to cook on  medium heat  for about two hours. Check them periodically you should not have to add more water.

After cooking for two hours your beans should be tender, your ham should’ve cooked off the bone, and your juices should be nice and savory.

The Finished Pinto Beans

How to Prepare Pinto Beans

Now that you’ve finished cooking your delicious pinto beans with ham you can serve it with rice or  cornbread.  If you’re in need of an amazing cornbread recipe, be sure to click here. This is the perfect fall dish, it’s fairly easy to cook and it can stretch for days. Not to mention you can cook and freeze it for another time. You also can cook your beans and ham in a crockpot.

Hope y’all enjoyed this post, have a wonderful day!

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How to Cook Pinto Beans the Southern Way

The perfect hearty and meaty dish for when the weather begins to cool down.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • Stove
  • Colander
  • Crockpot(optional)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Bag of Pinto Beans
  • 1 Spiral Ham
  • 8-10 cups of water
  • 1/4 cup of cornstarch or flour
  • 1/4 cup of water

Instructions
 

  • First, I'm going to open my beans and pour them into a colander.
  • Once, my pinto beans are in the colander, I'm going to rinse them to remove any foreign items...lol.
  • Since, I'm making a large pot of beans I'm going to need about 8-10 cups of water. You'll want to make sure that your beans are completely covered with water.
  • Then, I'm going to add my beans to the water.
  • Then, bring the beans to a boil take them off  the heat. Allow them to sit for about an hour. 
  • When they have finished sitting, you will drain them again.
  • Drain and rinse your beans in your colander.
  • Add another 8-10 cups of fresh water, ham, and seasonings. I just use a little pepper,  because I want to get all the flavor from the ham. I didn't use any salt, because the ham is salty enough.
  • Be sure to taste before adding any salt. Feel free to use whatever seasonings you prefer
  • 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. Cover with lid and allow to cook on  medium heat  for about two hours. 
  • Check them periodically you should not have to add more water.
  • After cooking for two hours your beans should be tender, your ham should've cooked off the bone, and your juices should be nice and savory.

Notes

Now that you've finished cooking your delicious pinto beans with ham you can serve them with rice or  cornbread.  If you're in need of an amazing cornbread recipe, be sure to click here. This is the perfect fall dish, it's fairly easy to cook and it can stretch for days. Not to mention you can cook and freeze it for another time. You can also cook your beans and ham in a crockpot.
 
Keyword How to Cook Pinto Beans
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Juliette and Jennifer
Juliette and Jennifer

Hey Y’all and Welcome to Southern Love! We’re Juliette and Jennifer a mother/daughter duo that lives in South Carolina. We created Southern Love to give people a real look into the lives of modern day southerners. You’ll be a able to find entertaining stories, amazing recipes, and southern decor.

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8 Comments

  1. Ernest Daniels
    September 10, 2019 / 1:35 am

    I loved this recipe! You need to make sure that you try it!

    • September 14, 2019 / 2:00 am

      Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! This recipe is delicious and perfect for cool weather!

  2. Lisa
    August 10, 2020 / 4:31 pm

    Can I use ham hock instead of a whole ham?

    • August 11, 2020 / 1:39 am

      Hey Lisa! Of course you can use ham hocks, the pork is primarily used for seasoning! I just used the ham because I found it in the freezer…lol! 😁

    • Lisa
      August 11, 2020 / 6:56 pm

      Do you put lid on them when they’re sitting for an hour?

      • August 11, 2020 / 8:33 pm

        Hey Lisa! Yes, you can put the lid on them and allow them to sit for an hour.

  3. Terri
    October 24, 2022 / 12:29 am

    It was refreshing to know that this is the exact way I’ve been cooking my beans of most kind for the past 15 years, with the exception of the cornstarch slurry, my beans usually will thicken after adding water once or twice, just how my mom taught me lol, but tonight cornstarch it is lol, cause we are Hangry

    • October 24, 2022 / 1:33 pm

      Hello Terry! Thank you so much for taking the time to write us! I’ve used cornstarch or flour as thickening that’s how I was taught to make beans. It always amazes me how people can make the same dishes in different ways, and they come out equally delicious! I hope you and your family enjoy the beans! Thank you again and I hope you have a wonderful day! 😊

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