Best Ever Pinto Beans
Best Ever Pinto Beans simmer low and slow with a smoky ham hock for deep, savory richness, while tomato sauce and a touch of brown sugar round the pot with gentle tang and sweetness. The beans turn tender and velvety, perfect for ladling into bowls alongside cornbread or rice for a cozy family supper or weekend gathering.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook3 hrs
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Best Ever Pinto Beans, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 48 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 31 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 100 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 58
- Heart Health
- 47
- Metabolic
- 56
- Digestive
- 48
- Inflammatory
- 66
- Performance
- 57
- General Wellness
- 1
Place pinto beans in a large bowl and cover with water.
- 2
Soak the beans for 4 hours, changing the water every 30 to 45 minutes.
- 3
Drain.
- 4
Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large pot.
- 5
Add pinto beans, ham hock, and salt to the pot.
- 6
Add more water if needed to cover the beans and ham hock by at least 1 inch.
- 7
Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the beans are just tender, 2 to 3 hours.
- 8
Remove the ham hock from the beans.
- 9
Remove the meat from the bone, chop the meat, and stir it into the beans.
- 10
Stir the tomato sauce and brown sugar into the beans.
- 11
Simmer until the beans are tender and the flavors are blended, about 1 hour.
- Calories 216.03 kcal Moderate 11%
- Protein 18.8 g Good Source 38%
- Carbohydrate 31.25 g 11%
- Total Fat 2.7 g Low Source 3%
- Saturated Fat 0.14 g Low Source 1%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 34.66 mg Moderate 12%
- Sodium 1266.19 mg High 55%
- Dietary Fiber 10.6 g Good Source 38%
- Total Sugars 17.14 g --
- Added Sugars 11.31 g High 23%
- Calcium 32.86 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 2.18 mg Moderate 12%
- Potassium 852.41 mg Moderate 18%
- Vitamin A 51.56 mcg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin C 4.4 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
About This Recipe
Best Ever Pinto Beans is made with 6 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 3 hrs 10 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Brown Sugar, Pinto Beans, Salt, and Sliced Deli Smoked Ham. Each serving provides about 216.03 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Best Ever Pinto Beans made of?
- The main ingredients are Brown Sugar, Pinto Beans, Salt, Sliced Deli Smoked Ham, Tomato Sauce. The full list of 6 is above.
- How long does it take to make Best Ever Pinto Beans?
- About 3 hrs 10 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 3 hrs to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 216.03 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Best Ever Pinto Beans easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 6 ingredients and 11 steps.
- Is Best Ever Pinto Beans healthy?
- Best Ever Pinto Beans has an easyChef Pro health score of 54/100. Per serving, it provides 216.03 calories and 18.8 g of protein, or 38% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1266.19 mg (55% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 11.31 g (23% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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