This Southern-style pinto beans recipe is made using ham hocks and signature spices for ultimate flavor. Pair it with cornbread or any of your favorite soul food side dishes.
What Type of Beans to Use
Dry pinto beans are used for the recipe. Most pinto beans have a tan or cream color along with reddish splotches. Pinto means painted or spotted and refers to the way the beans look.
Canned beans don’t take long to cook (they are pre-cooked). You may want to cook your ham hock in broth for a couple of hours separately, and then add the canned beans to that pot.
Do You Have to Soak the Beans Overnight?
This recipe uses dried beans. If you want to lower the cooking time you will need to soak them in advance. You have a couple of options. You can soak them overnight in a large bowl filled with water. Or you can boil a large pot of water on the stove. Once the temperature reaches boiling, remove the pot from heat and add the beans. Allow the beans to soak for at least one hour.
If you don’t soak the beans in advance, it will add hours to your cook time.
What Type of Meat to Use
The recipe calls for pork ham hocks. You can use smoked turkey necks, turkey legs, turkey wings, salt pork, or even bacon.
Pork ham hocks aren’t very meaty. You should always look for the meatiest one you can find. It’s pork knuckle, where the foot was attached to the hog’s leg and is mostly fat and bone.
Cook Time/How Long Does it Take to Cook
Cook time will vary based on how you like to serve your beans. They will typically need anywhere from 1 1/2 hours – 3 hours depending on your texture preference. Soft beans that aren’t mushy take about 2 hours.
You can test if they are done by grabbing one bean out of the pot and mashing it with a spoon or fork.
How to Double the Recipe
You can double the recipe and use the same amount of ham hock or opt for one slightly larger. The cook time will remain the same.
How to Make the Dish Vegan or Vegetarian
Omit the meat. Use vegetable broth. Add in 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes for flavor.
More Southern Recipes
Chitterlings
Pork Neck Bones
Southern Meatloaf
Southern Fried Shrimp
Pair With These Side Dishes
Sweet Potato Cornbread
Southern Cornbread
Southern Deviled Eggs
Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes
Slow Cooker Collard Greens
Southern Pinto Beans
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped white onion
- 3 garlic cloves Minced.
- 5-6 cups chicken broth You can also use water. Use enough to fully cover the beans.
- 1 pound bag dried pinto beans Rinsed
- 1– 1 1/2 pounds ham hocks Fully cooked. See notes for substitutions.
- 1 teaspoon Creole Seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water (enough to cover the pinto beans) and place it on the stove to boil. Once the water has boiled, remove it from the heat and add the pinto beans. Allow the beans to soak for 1 hour and then drain. Alternatively, you can soak the beans overnight.
- Place a large pot on medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
- When hot, add the onions and garlic. Saute until translucent and fragrant.
- Add in the chicken broth, pinto beans, ham hock, Creole seasoning, and bay leaf. Stir.
- Place the lid on the pot and lower the heat to medium-low. Cook for 1 1/2-3 hours until the beans are soft. You can test if they are done by grabbing one bean out of the pot and mashing it with a spoon or fork.
- Open up the pot and remove the bay leaf and ham hock. If you like meat in your beans, use 2 forks and shred the meat from the ham hock and return it to the pot. Taste repeatedly and adjust spices if needed.
- Cool before serving.
Notes
- Not soaking the beans in advance will add a couple of hours to your cook time.
- Rinse the beans first to remove any surface dirt.
- If you like for your beans to include meat from the ham hock, consider boiling it in water before cooking them with the beans. This will soften it up, prior to cooking it along with the beans. The beans will still have plenty of the ham hock flavor without boiling it in advance.
- Check on the beans frequently while they cook. They will typically need anywhere from 1 1/2 hours – 3 hours depending on your texture preference.
- You can use smoked turkey a leftover ham bone, salt pork, country ham, or even bacon in the recipe.
- You can double the recipe and use the same amount of ham hock or opt for one slightly larger. The cook time will remain the same.
- You can substitute Creole seasoning for whatever flavor or spice blend you like.
- Canned beans don’t take long to cook. You may want to cook your ham hock in broth for a couple of hours separately, and then add the canned beans to that pot.
Brenda
Friday 21st of February 2025
This recipe indeed is a true Southern recipe for Pinto Beans. Growing up, I learned how to cook with my precious “down-home cooking” Southern Mama (may she RIP) and this is exactly how we cook them with one exception — the Creole seasoning. I have never used it before in Pinto Beans. I made some this past weekend adding the Creole seasoning, an indicated in your recipe, and I have to admit, it was awesome! Southern cooks are all about flavors while using different spices. I will do it he to add the Creole seasoning! Thank you so much for sharing all of your delicious recipes. My family and I are enjoying them!
Here’s a tip for those who want to take the short cut and use canned Pinto beans — please don’t. Trust me, they taste so much better using the dry pinto beans (yes, wash them and soak them overnight in tap water) and I cook my “country ham hock” (not smoked and not country ham pieces, it’s not the same) in Swanson’s Chicken Broth for at least 1 hour on low-medium simmer with lid partially on. Then follow this delicious recipe. After adding your pinto beans, if you need more liquid, add either Chicken broth or water. The chicken broth gives you more protein and flavor. Your Pinto Beans will turn out awesome! My husband cooks pork chops on the grill and I make some cornbread and bake it in my iron skillet. That’s all we need and it’s very filling.
Sarah
Monday 27th of May 2024
I’ve made your pinto recipe 3 times now and it’s wonderful! Trying it with canned pintos this time, I’ve done turkey necks and ham hock but any smoked meat would do the trick, great flavor!
Brandi Crawford
Thursday 20th of February 2025
So glad to hear it!
VM
Saturday 7th of October 2023
I grew up in the South but had never cooked pinto beans. I was asked to make them for a potluck and found your recipe online. It sounded like a good Southern traditional recipe complete with the ham hocks and Creole seasoning. It was a big hit with requests for the recipe. My family also loved it and I know this will be a regular dish. Thank you for sharing.
Brandi Crawford
Sunday 8th of October 2023
You're welcome!
Lena
Wednesday 2nd of August 2023
This was delicious! I made it in the crockpot and it came out great! Sautéed the onion and garlic on the stovetop and added it in with all the other ingredients in the crockpot. Took about 4.5 hours, but we like our beans soft. Soaked the beans overnight and then some before cooking. Also used Laura Fuentes' creole seasoning recipe (found online). De-lish!!
Brandi Crawford
Friday 18th of August 2023
Sounds good!
Taye Bee
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
What do I do if my turkey necks aren't smoked already? Please help meeee :(
Nanne
Monday 10th of April 2023
@Taye Bee, liquid smoke in a bottle
Brandi Crawford
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
Raw meat will not provide any flavor. You should smoke them first or buy some other smoked meat, sausage, bacon, etc.