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Traditional Tejano Beans (Mexican Pinto Beans)
4.9 from 93 votes

Traditional Tejano Beans (Mexican Pinto Beans)

Traditional Tejano Beans are a hearty pinto bean dish cooked slowly with a ham bone, garlic, onion, and a jalapeño for mild heat. The long simmer creates tender beans immersed in a flavorful bean broth enhanced with chicken bouillon and a touch of sugar. The jalapeño is left whole but slit to infuse subtle spiciness without overwhelming heat. This recipe suits those wanting a satisfying, rich pot of beans with a smoky undertone, ideal for serving alongside Mexican dishes or as a comforting main with fresh lime wedges for brightness.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 10 Servings
Calories: 278 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 4 cups pinto beans dry
  • 12 cups water 12 cups for stovetop version; see crock pot instructions for water amounts
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and smashed (or 1 tablespoon garlic powder)
  • 1 medium onion very roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon good quality
  • 1 jalapeños left whole, but with a slit cut on two sides
  • 1 ham bone or ham hock*
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • lime fresh, to garnish, wedges

Instructions

Stovetop Instructions:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Rinse the dry beans in a colander. Put them in a large stock pot and add 12 cups water.
  2. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a medium-low simmer.
  3. Add the garlic, onion, sugar, chicken bouillon, jalapeno/s, and ham bone. Bring to a boil again and then reduce the heat to medium low.
  4. Simmer on medium low with the lid on but vented. (Tilted so that it's not sealed) Stir occasionally.
  5. Cook for 2-3 hours. After about an hour and a half, add salt so that it can absorb into the beans as they finish cooking. I added somewhere between 2-3 teaspoons, but taste as you go. The beans will continue to absorb the salt as they finish cooking, so be cautious.
  6. Continue cooking until the beans are tender. Taste them ; if the beans are still hard or chalky, keep simmering. Don't wait until the liquid has cooked off so much that they look like refried beans--you want plenty of bean gravy.
  7. Remove the ham bone and discard (if there is any meat on it, chop it and add it to the pot).
  8. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh limes.
Slow cooker instructions:
  1. Rinse the dry beans in a colander.* Add to a crock pot, then fill the pot with water until it reaches 2 inches above the beans. Add all the other ingredients except the salt.
  2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Start checking at 6 hours and taste. Add the salt for the last hour of cooking.
  3. Remove the ham bone and discard (if there is any meat on it, chop it and add it to the pot).
  4. Garnish with limes.
Quick Slow Cooker Instructions:
  1. Fill your crock pot about 1/3 of the way with water. Turn the crock pot to high and put on the lid. Set aside.
  2. Put the rinsed beans in a large stock pot and add water 1 and 1/2 inches above the beans.
  3. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to medium and simmer for about 30 minutes.
  4. Pour the beans into a colander and strain well.
  5. Add the beans to the crock pot with the heated water. Add the rest of the ingredients, excluding the salt. When all the ingredients are added, check the water level. The water should be about 1 and 1/2 inches above the beans. Add or remove water accordingly.
  6. Cook on high for 4-5 hours, adding the salt for the last hour or so.
  7. Remove the ham bone and discard (if there is any meat on it, chop it and add it to the pot).
  8. Season with pepper to taste, garnish with limes.

Notes

  • Substitute 6-8 unchopped bacon slices for the ham bone; discard after cooking.
  • One whole jalapeño provides mild heat; use two for a spicier result.
  • If you experience digestive issues with beans, soak overnight and discard the soak water, or boil and simmer for 30 minutes before slow cooking.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1bowl Calories 278kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 51g (17%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g (5%) Potassium 1097mg (23%) Fiber 12g (48%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 15IU (0%) Vitamin C 8mg (9%) Calcium 100mg (10%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 10 Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 278

% Daily Value*

Serving 1bowl
Calories 278kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 51g 17%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Potassium 1097mg 23%
Fiber 12g 48%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 15IU 0%
Vitamin C 8mg 9%
Calcium 100mg 10%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.