Swap your canned beans for homemade with this easy crock pot white bean recipe. Learn how to make beans from scratch with this recipe for a slow cooker. The longer cooking time means you don’t even need to soak the beans. Read the whole post for important notes and tips, since the slow cooker isn’t always safe for cooking all kinds of beans. [feast_advanced_jump_to].
Im not against using canned white beans. They are super quick and convenient (and what I most often use for Italian Sausage Rice).
But I’m always glad I cooked up some dry beans for a recipe when I took the time to do so.
They have so much more flavor that I could eat them by themselves. They also have a better texture and are really easy to make, especially in the crock pot like these black beans.
Just put everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work, just like with Buffalo Chicken Chili. This is a great way to make a lot of beans for your favorite recipes or to store them for later use.
So let me show you how to cook some delicious white beans in your slow cooker!
1. Wash beans. Place the dried beans in a fine mesh sieve and rinse them thoroughly.
2. Mix. Add the salt, rinsed dried beans, and cooking liquid to the bottom of a crock pot or slow cooker. Stir to mix.
To Store: Put extra crockpot white beans in a container that won’t let air in. Put it in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can drain and rinse the cooking liquid off before storing or store with the liquid.
To Freeze: Freeze the cooled beans in a labeled container or zip-top bag for up to 3–4 months.
To Reheat: Reheat in the microwave until warmed through or on the stovetop adding water if needed.
Cooking white beans in a crockpot is a simple convenient, and delicious way to prepare this versatile legume. With minimal effort you can have tender, flavorful beans ready to add protein and fiber to soups, stews, chilis, rice bowls, tacos, and more.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to cook perfect white beans in a crockpot every time. We’ll cover choosing the right beans, prep work, cook times, flavor combinations, and troubleshooting tips. I’ll also share some of my favorite crockpot bean recipes so you can put your skills to use. Let’s dive in!
Selecting and Prepping White Beans
The first step is choosing quality dried white beans, such as navy beans, great northern beans, or cannellini beans Check for any dirt, debris, or damaged beans and give them a good rinse. For quicker, more even cooking, it’s best to soak the beans overnight.
To soak, place the beans in a large bowl and cover with at least 2 inches of water. Let sit at room temperature for 8-12 hours. The beans will plump up and many of the complex sugars that cause gas will dissolve into the water.
Drain the soaked beans and give them another rinse before using. No time to soak overnight? No problem! You can “quick soak” beans by boiling them for 2 minutes, letting them sit in the hot water for 1 hour, and then draining and rinsing.
Crockpot Cook Times for White Beans
Crockpots tend to cook a bit slower than stovetop. Here are some general guidelines for cook times:
- Unsoaked beans on LOW heat: 10-12 hours
- Unsoaked beans on HIGH heat: 6-8 hours
- Soaked beans on LOW heat: 6-8 hours
- Soaked beans on HIGH heat: 4-6 hours
The cooking time can vary based on the freshness of your beans, your crockpot model, and how tender you want your beans. Natural bean enzymes that cause gas also break down more the longer the beans cook.
How to Cook White Beans in a Crockpot
Cooking beans in a crockpot is simple. Here’s my easy method:
- Add rinsed and sorted beans to the crockpot (no need to pre-soak if you don’t have time)
- Cover beans with at least 2 inches of water or broth
- Add any aromatics like onions, garlic, herbs
- Cook on LOW for 10-12 hours or HIGH for 6-8 hours
- Check beans for doneness and add salt to taste in last hour
And that’s it! The crockpot does the work for you. Once tender, the beans are ready to use.
Tips for Perfect Beans
- Don’t let beans cook dry, they may burn. Check liquid level halfway through.
- Don’t add salt or acidic ingredients like tomatoes early on or beans won’t soften as well.
- Give the crockpot a stir every 4 hours or so to distribute flavors.
- Cook a big batch! Leftover beans store well for up to 5 days refrigerated or 6 months frozen.
Flavorful Add-Ins for White Beans
Plain beans are nice, but to liven things up I like to add:
- Aromatics: Onion, garlic, celery, carrot, bay leaves
- Herbs: Rosemary, thyme, oregano, cilantro
- Spices: Chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander
- Smoked meat: Ham hock, bacon, sausage
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, bell peppers, greens
- Acid: Lemon juice, vinegar, wine
Experiment with different flavor profiles. Beans are a versatile canvas!
Troubleshooting Crockpot Bean Issues
Even when carefully following a recipe, you may run into some problems. Here’s how to troubleshoot:
Beans still tough after full cook time: Older beans or hard water may require more time. Turn heat to HIGH and cook 1-2 more hours, adding more liquid if needed.
Beans falling apart or mushy: Beans cooked too long or at too high a heat. Next time, reduce heat to LOW and check doneness more frequently.
Beans bland: Boost flavor with bolder seasonings and aromatics. Acidic ingredients like tomatoes and citrus juice also make beans pop.
Beans dry: Top off with additional hot water or broth, at least 1 inch above beans. May need to increase total cook time.
Satisfying Crockpot White Bean Recipes
Ready to put your bean cooking skills to work? Try these delicious recipes:
White Chicken Chili: Cook beans with onion, garlic, jalapeños, and chicken broth. Shred and add cooked chicken breast, corn, cumin, and chili powder last 30 minutes. Garnish with avocado, cheese, and cilantro.
Pasta e Fagioli: Sauté onion, celery, and garlic. Add to crockpot with beans, chicken stock, rosemary, and Parmesan rind. Once beans are tender, stir in pasta and spinach to wilt.
White Beans with Smoked Sausage: Cook beans with sausage, diced onion, Cajun seasoning, and chicken broth. Serve over rice with hot sauce.
Vegetarian Baked Beans: Mix cooked beans with BBQ sauce, molasses, mustard, maple syrup, onion, and vegan bacon. Bake until thickened.
Tuscan Bean Salad: Toss cooked white beans with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, and olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian spices.
Enjoy Perfect Beans with Ease
Crockpots make cooking dried beans easy and convenient. With some simple prep work, the right cook times, and flavorful additions, you can have tender white beans ready for any recipe. Troubleshoot any issues that arise with the tips provided. And most importantly, have fun trying new bean creations! Your family will thank you for the hearty, satisfying meals.
Make it Your Own
- Garlic White Beans: Put salt in the slow cooker and add 2 minced garlic cloves or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- The recipe is Italian-style. Add 4 cloves of garlic, 1 teaspoon of rubbed sage, a bay leaf, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper to the salt. Stir in good quality extra virgin olive oil when serving.
Ways to Use White Beans
Substitute this white beans recipe the next time you would use a can of white beans. Some suggestions:
Or try them out as a side dish to:
Because of the slow cooking process, it doesnt change the cook time enough to make a difference so you dont have to soak the beans. But, if you find that you have difficulty digesting beans, there are sources that suggest that soaking beans can make them more digestible.
Yes! Put all the ingredients in a big pot and mix them together. Then put the lid on top and heat it over medium-low. Then remove the lid, reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 1-1. 5 hours until tender, adding more cups of water as needed.
Try this recipe with pinto beans or chickpeas. However, it is not a safe method for red kidney beans, white kidney beans, broad beans or lima beans as these contain unsafe amounts of lectins that wont be broken down with the low cooking temperature of the slow cooker.
- If you don’t have a very small slow cooker, I suggest making at least a pound of beans so that they cook evenly.
- It’s not safe to cook Red Kidney Beans, White Kidney (Cannellini) Beans, Lima (Butter) Beans, or Broad (Fava) Beans in a slow cooker because the food may not get hot enough to kill the high amount of lectins that are in them. Because these beans need to soak for at least 8 hours before they can be cooked in the slow cooker, you should boil them for 30 minutes before putting them in the slow cooker to finish cooking.
- Some sources say that beans may be harder to digest if you don’t soak them or cook them in a slow cooker. If you have trouble digesting them, it’s best to cook any kind of bean in the slow cooker the way shown above.
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Crock-Pot White Beans
FAQ
Do white beans have to be soaked before cooking?
What beans should not be cooked in a slow cooker?
Is it better to cook beans on low or high?
How do you cook white beans in a crock pot?
1 lb. white beans I used Navy, but Great Northern would work just as well Soak beans overnight. In the morning, drain and rinse the beans and then put them in the crock pot. Toss in ham shanks or hocks and onion, and then cover with 2-3 inches of water.
Can eating black beans cause weight gain?
If you have a balanced and diverse diet and practice regular physical activity, black beans will not cause you weight gain. You should eat them inside a healthy diet.
Can you cook white beans in a slow cooker?
Cooking white beans from scratch in the slow cooker is so simple and adds so much flavor to the recipes that use them! Try them in soups, hummus and more. Rinse the white beans thoroughly in a fine mesh sieve. Add the beans, salt and water to the base of a slow cooker and stir to combine.
How do you cook black beans in a crock pot?
Place the pot on a burner and bring the water just to a boil. Turn the burner off and cover the pot with a lid. Let the beans sit overnight, or at least 8 hours. Pour the beans into a colander and then back into the pot. Cover the beans with water, swish the beans around with your hands and then discard the water.