Description
Learn how to cook dried beans on the stove the easy way. This homemade beans recipe works perfectly with red, pinto, or black beans, giving you tender, flavorful beans from scratch. With simple ingredients like onion, garlic, and bacon, you’ll turn dried beans into a comforting, budget-friendly dish that’s healthy and delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried beans (red, black, or pinto)
- 1 cup bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 bay leaves
- Salt, to taste
- 6 cups hot water (added gradually)
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (garnish)
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley (garnish)
Instructions
Soak beans overnight – cover with water and let them rest.
In a large pot, sauté bacon until golden and crisp.
Add onions, cook until soft, then add garlic.
Drain the soaking water, then stir the beans into the pot.
Pour hot water about 2 inches above the beans.
Add salt and bay leaves, top the pot, and let it simmer.
Cook on medium-low, topping with more hot water as needed, until beans are tender (1.5–2 hours).
Notes
Soak or not? You can skip soaking, but expect longer cooking time.
Salt timing: add it while cooking, not at the start, so the beans soften properly.
Bacon swap: smoked sausage or turkey bacon also works.
Batch cooking: make extra — beans freeze beautifully.
This dish proves that even beans from scratch can taste gourmet with the simplest ingredients.
Note: These values are rough estimates based on common ingredients. For medical or dietary advice, it’s always best to consult a registered nutritionist or healthcare provider.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 Hours
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Worldwide
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg