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–+ servings
pinto beans with ham hocks in white bowl

Smoky Southern Pinto Beans

This southern pinto beans recipe is all about slow-cooked comfort—tender beans simmered low and steady until they turn creamy, hearty, and full of down-home flavor. Using the stovetop, the beans gently soak up smoky seasoning and aromatics over 2–3 hours, creating a dish with a velvety texture and rich broth. Perfect as a soul food side or a stand-alone bowl, these beans are a true taste of Southern tradition.
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Course: dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine: southern
Diet: Low Salt
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 213kcal
Author: Marwin Brown

Ingredients

  • 11 oz package pinto beans
  • 1 quart water
  • 1 medium onion halved or roughly chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 lb smoked ham hock
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme
  • 1 tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ tablespoon Kosher Salt
  • 1 cup Haitian Epis

Instructions

  • Place beans in a large pot of cold water. Remove any floating pebbles and let beans soak overnight.
  • Saute sliced onions in a heavy bottomed pot for about 2-3 minutes. Season with a quarter of the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add diced cloves of garlic and the ham hocks for another 30 seconds stirring once.
  • Add beans, thyme, bay leaves, and water to the pot along with another ¼ of the spices. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until beans reach desired tenderness (1 ½ - 2 hours).
  • Add the epis, increase heat to high cooking uncovered for 20-30 minutes- liquid should be reduced but still broth. Stir as needed.
  • Serve with a dollop of the remaining epis.

Video

Notes

For a quick soak, bring beans to a boil for 1 minute and then remove from heat. Allow beans to sit an hour prior to cooking.
Smoked turkey is a good substitute for ham hocks if you prefer to avoid pork altogether.
This dish is great without epis, so don’t fret if you don’t have the ingredients to make it.
This recipe works with red beans as well as white beans too.
Taste and adjust seasoning as you go.

Nutrition

Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 553mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 455IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg
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