Southern-Style Crock Pot Great Northern Beans Recipe

Crock Pot Great Northern Beans – Southern style! Hearty, comforting, and perfect served with my Southern Cornbread Recipe.

Dry great northern beans cooked slowly with a ham hock and simple vegetables produce a rich, flavorful pot of beans that will warm the whole family.

This is an easy slow cooker recipe: minimal prep and maximum flavor after a full day of gentle cooking.

💖 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy to prepare
• Quick to assemble
• Family friendly and comforting

What are Great Northern Beans?

Great northern beans are medium-to-large white beans with a mild, creamy flavor. They are similar to navy beans but hold their shape a bit better during cooking. They pair wonderfully with ham, vegetables, and classic Southern seasonings. You can substitute cannellini or navy beans if needed.

What You’ll Need

• 2 pounds dry great northern beans
• 6 cups water (or enough to cover)
• 1–1½ pounds ham hock (or about 2 cups cooked ham pieces)
• Salt, to taste
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large carrot, sliced or chopped
• 1 large celery stalk, sliced or chopped
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a touch of heat)

How to Make

1. Rinse the dry beans and, if possible, soak them in water for 12–24 hours to shorten cooking time and improve digestibility. Drain and rinse before cooking.

2. Add the beans, water, ham hock, carrot, celery, black pepper, and cayenne (if using) to a large slow cooker.

3. Cook on High for 4–5 hours or Low for 7–8 hours, until the beans are tender.

4. Remove the ham hock, let it cool slightly, shred the meat from the bone, and stir the meat back into the beans.

5. Taste and add salt if needed, depending on how salty your ham hock is. Serve hot with cornbread or biscuits.

Expert Cooking Tips

• Soaking: Soak beans for 12–24 hours to reduce overall cooking time and improve digestibility. Always discard the soaking water and rinse the beans before cooking.
• Skim foam: During the first stages of cooking, a frothy foam may form. Skim it off if you prefer a clearer broth.
• Ham alternatives: If you don’t have a ham hock, use cooked ham pieces for flavor. Adjust salt at the end since ham can be salty.
• Liquid: No need for broth—water plus the ham hock yields plenty of flavor.

More Bean Recipes to Love:

Ham and Bean Crockpot Soup (using leftover ham)

Crock Pot Black Eyed Peas with Ham Hock

Southern Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens