White beans and ham hocks slow cooker

This is inexpensive eating at it’s best! Not only is Slow Cooker White Beans with Smoked Ham Hocks economical, this meal is hearty and satisfying. A great meal option when you want a big bowl of comfort. Once a year we order half a pig from some friends of ours that raise them. They always throw in extra smoked ham hocks and I use them to make soup and baked beans. This time I wanted to make something different.

What are Ham Hocks Anyway???

Ham Hock is the lower hind leg of a hog. It’s usually cured, smoked or both. It’s used to add a smokey and salty flavor to soups and stews. Ham hocks consist of a lot of skin, tendons and ligaments so they require long hours of cooking through stewing or braising. They can be cooked with greens or other vegetables, made into soups, stews and to add flavor to sauces. Ham Hocks add distinctive flavor to any dish and are available year ’round

After cooking and once you remove the skin and fat, ham hocks actually contain more meat than you might realize. For this reason ham hocks not only add flavor but are very economical to use. In the US, ham hocks are used extensively in Soul cooking and the Pennsylvania Dutch use ham hocks to make scrapple. Ham hocks are used in many different countries as well; Golonka~ Polish, Eisbein~ German, Stelze~ Austria, Schweinshaxe~ Bavaria, Fläsklägg med rotmos~ Sweden, Wädli~Swirtzerland, just to name a few.

Cooks All Day

This dish is made in the slow cooker so you can head out the door in the morning and when you get home, supper will be waiting for you. I like to serve Slow Cooker White Beans with Smoked Ham Hocks with thick slices of buttered sourdough bread. This recipe is a winner. It’s delicious, smokey, with big chunks of ham, vegetables and tender beans.

Slow Cooker White Beans and Smoked Ham Hocks

Yield: 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 8 hrs

Total Time: 8 hrs 15 mins

Comfort food at it's best!

4.50 from 2 votes

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Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 medium onions, diced
• 2 large carrots, sliced
• 3-4 stalks celery, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 large meaty smoked ham hocks
• 1 pound dried great northern beans, soaked overnight
• 6 1/2 cups chicken stock or water

Instructions 

• In a large skillet over medium high heat, add olive oil, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently for about 10 minutes.

• Place the vegetables, ham hocks, beans and chicken stock or water in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours. About one hour before the cooking time is completed, remove the ham hocks from the slow cooker and let them cool until they can be handled. Remove and discard the bones, fat and skin from the ham hocks. Chop or shred the meat and return it to the slow cooker, cook until the beans are completely tender.

Course: Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine: All-American

Author: Lynn / Turnips 2 Tangerines

Keyword: smoked ham hocks, white beans

Did you make this recipe?Tag @lynnturnips on Instagram with the hashtag #turnips2tangerines

Great Northern Beans we used for this recipe are from Camellia Brand Beans. Another fantastic recipe to make for a stick-to-your-ribs meal is BBQ Bacon Wrapped Onion Bombs

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