Slow Cooker Mexican Pinto Beans

4.3 from 18 votes

Posted April 19, 2021Last Updated October 25, 2024

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Made from scratch, with dried pinto beans, these slow cooked beans are loaded with spices and topped with fresh pico de gallo for authentic Mexican flavor.

If you’re looking for a delicious and authentic side dish to serve for Cinco de Mayo, I highly recommend these Slow Cooker Mexican Pinto Beans.

I have to tell you upfront, I’m the only person in my family who likes beans. Green beans we all love. But when it comes to this sort of bean, I’m on my own.

So the rave reviews here are all mine. And let me tell you, I give these pinto beans a big thumbs up! Of course, I can’t eat them all myself, at least not in one sitting, but thankfully they freeze well.

I don’t go to the trouble very often of making beans like this from scratch, because of the time involved in soaking and then cooking the beans.

But trust me, it’s absolutely worth the time and effort! Honestly, it requires more patience than effort, since the process for making these beans in the slow cooker is pretty hands-off.

The key to this dish being extra special is the pico de gallo. If you skip it, it’s a pretty average pot of Mexican beans. Beans with great flavor, of course, but just beans.

The fresh, cool pico de gallo is what takes these beans to the next level. I absolutely love the combination of the savory, slow cooked beans with the pop of flavor and freshness from the pico de gallo.

So, whatever you do, don’t make these beans without the pico! If you’re in a hurry, you can sub canned beans for the dried. The flavor and texture won’t be quite the same, but the beans will still be delicious.

And yes, you really do need to soak your beans if you’re using dried. I’ve tried skipping that step and my beans never quite cooked all the way, no matter how long I simmered them in the slow cooker.

If you love beans like I do, you’ve got to try these Slow Cooker Mexican Pinto Beans. My family would disagree, but this is definitely one of my favorite Mexican side dishes.

Be sure to save this recipe for Slow Cooker Mexican Pinto Beans to your favorite Pinterest board for later.

Here’s what you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Mexican Pinto Beans

Dried pinto beans
Canned diced chilies
Produce: onion, garlic
Spices: cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper
Bacon
Chicken broth
Pico de gallo

Slow Cooker Mexican Pinto Beans

Made from scratch, with dried pinto beans, these slow cooked beans are loaded with spices and topped with fresh pico de gallo for authentic Mexican flavor.

4.34 from 18 votes

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Course: Side Dishes

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 8

Additional Time: 8

Total Time: 16 10

Servings: 10 -12 servings

Calories: 88kcal

Author: Danelle

Ingredients

1 pound dried pinto beans
1 4 oz. can diced green chilies
1/2 cup diced onion
3-4 cloves garlic minced
4 slices bacon chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoon chili powder
2 cups chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh pico de gallo for serving

Equipment

Instructions

Place the dried beans in a large bowl or pot. Cover with water by two inches. Let beans soak for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Drain the soaked beans and add them to the slow cooker along with the green chilies, onion, garlic, bacon, cumin and chili powder. Pour in the chicken broth, then add enough water to cover the beans by 3-4 inches.
Cover and cook on high for 6-8 hours, or until beans are tender. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve topped with fresh pico de gallo for garnish.

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