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Cozy Crockpot Pinto Bean Soup Recipe Easy Homemade Ham Hock Soup with Cornbread

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A hearty and warming crockpot pinto bean soup with smoky ham hock, paired perfectly with golden cornbread. This easy slow-cooked recipe is perfect for cozy nights and uses simple pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 cups dried pinto beans, rinsed (or 3 cans, drained and rinsed for shortcut)
  • 1 large ham hock (about 1.5 pounds), bone-in
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 6 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 box cornbread mix (or homemade equivalent, e.g., Jiffy)
  • Butter or oil for greasing the cornbread pan

Instructions

  1. Rinse the pinto beans under cold water and remove any debris. If using canned beans, drain and rinse well.
  2. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and chop the carrots and celery into small pieces.
  3. Layer the rinsed beans, chopped vegetables, ham hock, chicken broth, diced tomatoes with juices, bay leaves, ground cumin, and smoked paprika in the crockpot. Stir gently to combine.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours until beans are tender but not mushy.
  5. Remove the ham hock and set aside to cool slightly. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Add broth or water if the soup is too thick.
  6. Shred the meat from the ham hock, discarding bone and fat, then stir the shredded meat back into the soup.
  7. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Prepare cornbread batter according to package or recipe instructions. Grease the baking dish with butter or oil, pour in the batter, and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Serve the hot soup with warm cornbread on the side for dipping.

Notes

Soaking dried beans overnight can reduce cooking time and improve digestibility but is not required. Avoid lifting the crockpot lid during cooking to maintain moisture and cooking time. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar before serving to brighten flavors. Season gradually with salt due to salty broth and ham hock. For a vegetarian version, omit ham hock and use vegetable broth with smoked paprika and liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot, pinto bean soup, ham hock soup, slow cooker soup, cornbread, comfort food, easy soup recipe, smoky soup

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/cozy-crockpot-pinto-bean-soup-recipe-easy-homemade-ham-hock-soup-with-cornbread/