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Image of cooked pinto beans with onions and bacon in a light broth.
4.84 from 109 votes

Pinto Beans Recipe

These pinto beans are cooked from scratch with tender, flavorful onions, fresh garlic and herbs, and smokey bacon. Easy to make and so much tastier than canned pinto beans, serve this hearty side dish with all of your favorite Tex-Mex and BBQ dinners. 
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Soaking Time8 hours
Total Time10 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 286kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried pinto beans
  • ½ pound thick-cut bacon
  • 1 large yellow onion - diced
  • 5 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme - minced
  • ½ teaspoon fresh rosemary - minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt - plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper - plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups chicken broth - low-sodium
  • 1 bay leaf
  • water - as needed

Instructions

  • Sort through the beans and discard any small rocks or debris. Transfer to a large bowl and fill with water. Soak the beans for at least 8 hours or overnight.
  • When ready to cook the beans, drain and rinse the beans in a large colander. Meanwhile, heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the slices of thick-cut bacon to the pot. Reduce heat to medium. Cook the bacon until all fat is rendered. Carefully remove the bacon to a clean plate and set it aside.
  • In the same pot over medium heat, add the diced onion. Cook the onion, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes (or until the onion is softened). Stir in the minced garlic, fresh thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring continuously.
  • Add the soaked beans to the pot with the Worcestershire sauce, chicken broth, bay leaf, and cooked bacon. Mix well to combine. Add water until it reaches approximately 1-inch above the beans. Bring to a low boil, cover partially with a lid, and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
  • Simmer gently for about 1-2 hours, or until the beans are tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.
  • Remove from heat and season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.

Notes

  • The bacon is optional, or, you may swap it out for a ham hock if preferred.
  • As the beans simmer, you may need to add additional water to keep the water level at about 1-inch above the beans.
  • For a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper towards the end of cooking.
  • For a more Tex-Mex style pinto beans recipe, try adding a little ground cumin (1-2 teaspoons), chili powder (1 teaspoon), and swap the thyme and rosemary for cilantro and/or oregano. Serve in burritos or with warm flour tortillas.

Nutrition

Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 946mg | Potassium: 536mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2mg
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