Description
Hearty slow cooker pinto beans, green chile and beef blend southwestern flavors into a soul-warming comfort dish. Rich meaty notes mingle with spicy green chiles, creating a satisfying meal that warms you from the inside out.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
Beans and Vegetables:
- 2 cups (400 g) dried pinto beans, rinsed and sorted
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (4 ounces / 113 g) can diced green chiles
- 1 (14.5 ounces / 400 g) can diced tomatoes
Spices and Liquids:
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 cups (1 liter) beef or chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup (10 g) chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Thoroughly brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, carefully seasoning with salt and pepper. Eliminate excess fat by draining, then transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
- Layer dried pinto beans into the slow cooker, complementing the beef with diced onion, minced garlic, vibrant green chiles, and diced tomatoes to create a robust flavor foundation.
- Infuse the mixture with aromatic spices: sprinkle cumin, smoked paprika, optional chili powder, and oregano across the ingredients. Gently pour broth and water, ensuring complete coverage of beans and meat.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and initiate cooking. Select high temperature for 5-6 hours or low temperature for 8-10 hours, allowing ingredients to meld and beans to reach perfect tenderness.
- After cooking, carefully evaluate the dish’s consistency and flavor profile. Delicately adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. If the mixture appears too dense, gradually introduce more broth to achieve desired texture.
- Transform the hearty mixture into individual servings, artfully garnishing with fresh cilantro. Accompany the dish with complementary sides like fluffy rice, golden cornbread, warm tortillas, or crispy chips for a satisfying meal experience.
Notes
- Slow cooking transforms tough beef into tender, melt-in-your-mouth bites, creating a rich and deeply flavored dish.
- Soak dried beans overnight to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility, helping break down complex starches and proteins.
- Choose lean ground beef to minimize excess fat while maintaining robust flavor and keeping the dish healthier.
- Customize heat levels by selecting mild or hot green chiles, accommodating various spice preferences without compromising the authentic southwestern profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (low) or 56 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg