Slow Cooker Beef and Pinto Bean Bowl: There’s something really comforting about a slow cooker meal that barely needs any work but still fills your belly with a big, hearty dinner. This beef and pinto bean bowl is a plain, no-fuss kind of cooking that many Midwest families grew up eating, where cheap beans, simple beef, and a few basic seasonings could feed the whole table. It’s a great meal for busy days, cold nights, or any time you want something filling that tastes like it’s been slow-cooked with care all day long.
Serve this dish with warm cornbread, buttery toast, or a batch of simple skillet biscuits so you can soak up all that tasty broth. A spoonful of chopped onion, some shredded cheddar cheese, or a splash of hot sauce on top makes it even better. If you want to make the meal go further, add a crisp green salad or a scoop of cooked rice on the side.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds beef stew meat
- 1 pound dried pinto beans, rinsed and sorted through
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, with the juice included
- 4 cups beef broth
Slow Cooker Beef and Pinto Bean Bowl: Directions
- Get the beans ready. Rinse the dried pinto beans under cool water and pick through them carefully, tossing out any small stones or beans that look shriveled or discolored. Place the raw beef stew meat in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker first, then spread the rinsed pinto beans evenly on top of the meat.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Sprinkle the chopped onion over the beans so it’s spread out evenly. Pour in the whole can of diced tomatoes along with its juice, then add the beef broth on top. Check that the beans are mostly covered by the liquid, since this helps them cook evenly and stay soft.
- Cook it low and slow. Put the lid on the slow cooker. Cook it on LOW heat for 8 to 10 hours, or if you’re short on time, use HIGH heat for 5 to 6 hours instead. You’ll know it’s done when the beans feel tender when you bite into one and the beef pulls apart easily. Once the time is up, stir everything together well so the flavors mix through the whole pot.
- Serve it hot. Scoop the beef and beans into bowls while it’s still hot. If you like, let everyone add their own toppings at the table, like extra chopped onion, a handful of shredded cheese, or a sprinkle of black pepper for a little kick.