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Making beans in the Crock Pot is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to prepare pinto beans from scratch. With only dried beans, water, and a few minutes of prep work, you can make a large batch of tender beans to enjoy now or freeze for easy meals later.
Beans in the Crock Pot
These slow cooker pinto beans cook gently throughout the day, so there is no soaking or standing over the stove. Use them in tacos, burritos, soups, casseroles, salads, and all your favorite Mexican-inspired recipes.
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Pin It NowWhy Youโll Love These Crock Pot Beans
- Only two simple ingredients
- No soaking required
- Easy, hands-off cooking method
- Makes 4ยฝ cups of cooked beans
- More affordable than canned beans
- Perfect for meal prep Freezer-friendly
- Easy to divide into recipe-sized portions
Do Pinto Beans Need to Be Soaked Before Slow Cooking?
No, you do not need to soak the pinto beans before placing them in the Crock Pot. Cooking them on low for eight hours gives the dried beans plenty of time to absorb the water and become tender.
Skipping the soaking step makes this an especially convenient recipe. Simply sort and rinse the beans, cover them with water, and let the slow cooker do the work.
Ingredients for Beans in the Crock Pot
- 6 cups water
- 12 ounces dried pinto beans
How to Make Beans in the Crock Pot
Step 1: Sort the beans
Lay all the dried beans out in a single layer. Look through them carefully and remove any misshapen, unusually small, or damaged beans. They may look harmless, but their texture can be undesirable after cooking.
Step 2: Rinse the beans
Place the beans in a colander and rinse them thoroughly under cool running water. Gently move them around with a spatula or your clean hands to make sure every bean is well rinsed.
Step 3: Add the beans and water
Place the rinsed pinto beans in the bottom of a 4 to 6-quart Crock Pot. Pour in 6 cups of water.
The water should cover the beans generously, with approximately 5 inches of water above them.
Step 4: Slow cook the beans
Cover the Crock Pot and cook the beans on low for 8 hours. You can cook them overnight, but do not cook them for longer than 10 hours.
The beans are ready when they are tender and cooked through.
Step 5: Drain and rinse
Once the beans have finished cooking, carefully pour them into a colander and rinse them again. Allow the excess water to drain before using the beans in a meal or transferring them to a storage container.
This recipe makes approximately 4ยฝ cups of cooked pinto beans.
How to Tell When Pinto Beans Are Done
Properly cooked pinto beans should be tender and creamy inside without completely falling apart. Test a few beans from different areas of the slow cooker because some may cook more quickly than others.
If the beans are still firm after eight hours, continue cooking them and check their texture periodically. Older dried beans sometimes take longer to soften than freshly purchased beans.
How to Freeze Cooked Pinto Beans
Allow the cooked beans to cool completely before freezing. Divide them into airtight freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags in portions that work well for your favorite recipes.
Remove as much air as possible from freezer bags and flatten them before freezing. Flat bags take up less freezer space and usually thaw more quickly.
Label each container with the contents, quantity, and freezing date. For the best quality, use the frozen beans within three months.
How to Thaw Frozen Beans
Transfer the frozen beans to the refrigerator and allow them to thaw overnight. For quicker use, place them in a microwave-safe bowl and heat them using short intervals until thawed.
Frozen beans can also be added directly to many hot soups, stews, and casseroles. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
How to Store Cooked Beans
Store cooled Crock Pot pinto beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Keep them chilled until you are ready to add them to a recipe or reheat them.
If you will not use the entire batch within that time, freeze the remaining beans in individual portions.
Ways to Use Crock Pot Pinto Beans
These simple pinto beans are incredibly versatile. Try using them in:
- Tacos
- Burritos
- Burrito bowls
- Enchiladas
- Nachos
- Taco salads
- Quesadillas
- Chili
- Bean soup
- Mexican casseroles
- Homemade refried beans
- Rice and bean bowls
Because the beans are cooked without seasonings, you can easily customize them for sweet, smoky, spicy, or savory recipes.
More Crock Pot Recipes
Beans in the Crock Pot (Freezer-Friendly)
Beans in the Crock Pot (Freezer-Friendly)
Equipment
- 4 to 6-quart Crock Pot
- Colander
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 12 ounces dried pinto beans
Instructions
- Lay the dried beans out in a single layer. Remove any misshapen, unusually small, or damaged beans, along with any stones or debris.
- Place the beans in a colander and rinse thoroughly under cool water. Use a spatula or clean hands to move the beans around while rinsing.
- Transfer the rinsed beans to the bottom of a 4 to 6-quart Crock Pot.
- Pour 6 cups of water over the beans. The beans should be generously covered, with approximately 5 inches of water above them.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. The beans can cook overnight, but they should not cook for longer than 10 hours.
- Once tender, drain and rinse the beans in a colander.
- Use immediately or allow the beans to cool before placing them in an airtight storage container.
