Say goodbye to bland beans and hello to flavorful slow cooker pinto beans. This pinto beans recipe comes together slowly in the crockpot mingling with spices and turkey tails for a tender nutrient-packed side dish that’s virtually hands-free.
Why this recipe works
These hearty, tender slow cooker pinto beans are cooked low and slow with liquid smoke, turkey tails, soy sauce, and spices which pack in loads of flavor.
Pinto beans are incredibly versatile. Use them in taco soup, burrito bowls, tacos, mash them into creamy refried beans or serve as is with crumbled cornbread on top (or for dipping)!
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
MEAT – Tearing up the meat and stirring it into the beans will help distribute the smoke flavor from the turkey tails. We are using smoked turkey tails as they are inexpensive, small, already cured, and infuse great smokey flavor to this dish. Technically you can use any smoked meat if you are looking for a substitute.
BEANS – You do not need to soak your beans before using them in this slow cooker recipe.
How to Make Slow Cooker Pinto Beans
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- A note from Chef Antoine. I like to layer the beans and seasonings in the crockpot as I feel the flavor is distributed better. If you prefer, you can simply add the beans, sprinkle on the seasonings and top with the turkey tails. The steps below are my method.
- Place half of the uncooked dried beans in a crockpot.
- Season the beans with 1/2 of the seasoned salt, 1/2 of the onion powder, and 1/2 of the garlic powder.
- Place turkey tails on top of seasoned beans. Sprinkle some more (but not all) of the seasoned salt, onion powder, and garlic powder over the tails and beans.
- Add remaining beans and sprinkle on remaining seasonings.
- Combine water, soy sauce, and liquid smoke and pour over the tails and beans. You may need more water. You want the liquid to almost cover the tails, about 3/4 the way up the meat.
- Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours.
- When done, you may need to skim some liquid off the top, depending on your preference for the amount of sauce.
- Using two forks, shred the tails and remove the bones. There will be a tailbone in each one.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
No, you do not have to soak the pinto beans before adding them to the slow cooker. They will cook and soak while they are in the crockpot. You can soak them if you prefer, but know that there’s no reason to!
Serving Suggestions
Serve slow cooker pinto beans as a side dish at your next barbecue or potluck, mixed into chili or soups, mashed into refried beans, loaded into tacos and burritos, poured over nachos, alongside ribs and grilled meats, or eaten with sweet cornbread.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Crockpot Lasagna
- Crockpot Beef Stew
- Crockpot Roast Beef
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Crockpot Ground Beef Casserole
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Slow Cooker Pinto Beans
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 16 ounces dried pinto beans
- 2 smoked turkey tails
- 1 Tablespoon seasoned salt divided, we use Lawry's
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder divided
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder divided
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup liquid smoke
- 5 cups water
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Tearing up the meat and stirring it into the beans will help distribute the smoke flavor from the turkey tails.
Instructions
- A note from Chef Antoine. I like to layer the beans and seasonings in the crockpot as I feel the flavor is distributed better. If you prefer, you can simply add the beans, sprinkle on the seasonings and top with the turkey tails. The steps below are my method.
- Place half of the uncooked dried beans in a crockpot.
- Season the beans with 1/2 of the seasoned salt, 1/2 of the onion powder, and 1/2 of the garlic powder.
- Place turkey tails on top of seasoned beans. Sprinkle some more (but not all) of the seasoned salt, onion powder, and garlic powder over the tails and beans.
- Add remaining beans and sprinkle on remaining seasonings.
- Combine water, soy sauce, and liquid smoke and pour over the tails and beans. You may need more water. You want the liquid to almost cover the tails, about 3/4 the way up the meat.
- Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours.
- When done, you may need to skim some liquid off the top, depending on your preference for the amount of sauce.
- Using two forks, shred the tails and remove the bones. There will be a tailbone in each one.
Nutrition
Chef Antoine Davis
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Gwendolyn BLACKMAN says
I HATE pinto beans but used your recipe yesterday and it’s a great improvement over the one I have been using. Used ham hocks ’cause that’s what I had on hand. With four bags in the cabinet, I will use your recipe again and again. LOL. Thanks.
Pat says
I hesitate to use 1/2 cup of the liquid smoke because it is highly concentrated. Could this be a typo or do you really use this much? Thank you for your recipes!
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Pat and thank you for pointing that out. You are correct, the measurement should actually have been 1/4 cup, I will fix it. That’s my error. I meant to put IF you don’t use smoked meat, you can use up to a 1/2 cup of liquid smoke. And while it is concentrated, it actually would be fine because it’s diluted with water and there are a lot of beans that need to soak up the liquid. Thanks again!
Mrs H says
Never seen or heard of turkey tails, what would be another option for this recipe? When I entered into grocery(s) websites, I get drumsticks and or wings. So not a wing fan and I’m not really sure how the drumsticks would work in this. Thoughts please and thank you!
Amanda Formaro says
We are using smoked turkey tails as they are inexpensive, small, already cured, and infuse great smokey flavor to this dish. Technically you can use any smoked meat if you are looking for a substitute. I would suggest smoked turkey wings. Ask your meat department if they have the turkey tails, sometimes when you don’t shop for a certain item you pass by it not even knowing. I’ve done it many times myself!