Southern Great Northern Beans Crock Pot Version
Cozy up to a bowl of truly Southern comfort with this slow-cooked Great Northern Beans recipe, made effortlessly in a crock pot. Featuring tender dried great northern beans, a smoky ham hock, aromatic garlic, and a medley of flavorful herbs like thyme and paprika, this dish simmers its way to perfection over the course of 8 hours. The broth, infused with savory chicken stock and enhanced with a touch of bay leaf, creates a rich base that warms the soul. This hearty, budget-friendly meal is easy to prep, requiring just 15 minutes of hands-on time before the magic happens in the slow cooker. Serve these beans hot, garnished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, alongside cornbread or fluffy rice for a comforting, filling dinner that tastes like a warm Southern hug. Perfect for family meals, meal prep, or any day you crave homestyle cooking, this recipe is a must-try for any crock pot enthusiast.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried great northern beans
- 1 whole smoked ham hock
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 whole bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons, chopped (optional garnish) parsley
Instructions
Rinse and sort the dried great northern beans, discarding any debris or damaged beans.
Place the beans in a large bowl and cover with water. Soak overnight (or at least 8 hours). Drain and rinse before cooking.
In a crock pot (slow cooker), add the soaked and drained beans.
Nestle the smoked ham hock into the beans.
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, chicken broth, bay leaf, dried thyme, paprika, and black pepper to the crock pot.
Place the lid on the crock pot and cook on LOW heat for 8 hours, or until the beans are tender and the flavors have melded.
Once cooked, remove the ham hock from the crock pot. Pull off the meat, shred it, and return it to the beans. Discard any bones, skin, or excess fat.
Taste the beans and adjust the seasoning with kosher salt as needed.
Serve the beans hot in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley if desired. Pair with cornbread or rice for a complete meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
441 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 12.0 g | 15% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.7 g | 19% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 53 mg | 18% | |
| Sodium | 1458 mg | 63% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 50.0 g | 18% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 13.2 g | 47% | |
| Total Sugars | 2.1 g | ||
| Protein | 33.9 g | 68% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 142 mg | 11% | |
| Iron | 5.4 mg | 30% | |
| Potassium | 1513 mg | 32% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
