Ham & Beans: A Simple, Economical, Filling Meal

Things are crazy these days, and they're getting more difficult as time marches on. I've noticed several people posting low-cost meals on various platforms, and I thought this would be a good time to share one of my husband's favorites.

He doesn't consider cost when he requests a certain meal. It's all about flavor for him. My husband's most requested meal is ham & beans. Because it's cheap, simple, and can go in my slow cooker, I'm all about it.

I believe I've shared my recipe for ham & beans before, but the classics are worth sharing multiple times. Other types of beans can be used in place of pinto beans, but my hubby prefers pinto.

Margarite's Ham & Beans

Ingredients 

1 Pound Dry Pinto Beans

1 Pound of Ham Chunks or a Nice Sized Ham Hock

1 Tablespoon Roasted Garlic and Herb Seasoning (Or To Taste)

1 Teaspoon Black Pepper (Or To Taste)

A Dash of Salt

Water

Directions 

Sort pinto beans, removing any rocks/debris and weird looking ones. Don’t worry, beans/legumes are natural products. Finding an occasional rock is normal. That’s why you sort them.

Rinse your sorted beans thoroughly in cold water and put them in a glass or plastic container. Add enough water to cover them plus around three inches. Let them soak for eight hours to overnight.

Drain and rinse the beans. Put them in the slow cooker, add ham chunks, Roasted Garlic and Herb Seasoning, black pepper, and cover with water plus two inches. Cook on high for five to six hours. Add salt to taste after cooking.

This recipe is flexible. You can make it without the ham, substitute another type of meat, add veggies such as onions and peppers, go crazy with the spices, or whatever makes your heart happy.

This recipe will feed 6 to 10 people. Couple it with some cornbread, and you have a tasty meal that won't break the bank. I've also made beans with leftover meat from my fridge such as sausage, bacon, and chicken. It's all good with beans.

Let's break down the cost. I'm not including the cost of the spices because I consider them pantry staples. The following prices are from Walmart.

One pound of Great Value Pinto Beans = $1.00

One pound of Farmland Cubed Ham = $4.96

Ham hocks aren't always available, but they're usually less expensive than cubed ham when you can find them.

For less than $6.00, you can enjoy this delicious meal with your family. If you include a box of Jiffy Cornbread Mix, it increases your total by 50 cents. Pretty good, I'd say. If you're really trying to save money, you can make beans without the meat.

What's your favorite budget-friendly meal?

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