Smoky Ham and Northern Beans: The Ultimate Crockpot Comfort
A comforting dish featuring northern beans cooked in a crockpot with smoky ham hocks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Crockpot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Onion (Chopped)
- 1 ½ lb. Smoked Ham Hocks
- 1 lb. Great Northern Beans
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and sort the Northern beans, removing any stones or damaged beans. No need to soak them overnight—that’s the beauty of the slow cooker method!
- Chop the onion into medium dice and place at the bottom of your crockpot.
- Add the rinsed Northern beans to the crockpot, then sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the beans.
- Nestle the smoked ham hocks into the bean mixture.
- Pour enough cold water into the crockpot to cover everything by about an inch.
- Season with just a pinch of salt and a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper.
- Cover the crockpot and set to low for 8 hours.
- About 30 minutes before serving, remove the ham hocks, shred any meat from the bones, and return the meat to the pot.
Notes
- Bean quality matters: Sort your Northern beans thoroughly—one stone can ruin the entire batch.
- Layer strategically: The onion-on-bottom technique prevents scorching while creating a flavor foundation.
- Delay the salt: Add minimal salt at the beginning as the ham hocks release considerable saltiness.
- Watch the water level: If your beans seem too firm after 6 hours, add hot (not cold) water.
- Balance the sweetness: The brown sugar amount can be adjusted based on your ham hocks.
- Texture fine-tuning: For creamier beans, mash about ¼ cup against the side of the crockpot during the final hour of cooking.
Find it online: https://www.sweethomecook.com/northern-beans-in-the-crockpot/