If you love a hearty side dish with plenty of flavor and a little heat, these crock pot spicy beans are worth adding to your meal rotation. Pinto beans, ranch-style beans with sliced jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, green chiles, and red enchilada sauce simmer together with a bold blend of seasonings for a dish that’s filling, savory, and just the right kind of spicy.
The slow cooker makes this recipe especially convenient. Once you’ve soaked and drained the pinto beans, add everything to the crock pot, and the long cook time lets the ingredients blend together. The result is a rich, flavorful pot of beans with a little kick in every spoonful.
Serve these crock pot spicy beans alongside fried beef tacos, grilled meats, fried ground beef burritos, or your favorite Tex-Mex dinner. They’re also hearty enough to enjoy in a bowl on their own when you’re craving something warm and satisfying.
If you love sides that are full of flavor, not work, be sure to try our easy broccoli cheddar fritters, jalapeno cheese rolls, and fried zucchini next.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Big, bold flavor. Enchilada sauce, green chiles, garlic, and spices give the beans plenty of personality.
- A satisfying amount of heat. Jalapeno peppers, cayenne, and red pepper flakes bring the spice.
- Two kinds of beans. Pinto beans and Ranch Style Beans create a hearty combination with plenty of texture.
- Easy slow cooker preparation. Once everything is added to the crock pot, you can let it cook while you take care of other things.
- Great for Tex-Mex meals. These beans are a natural match for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas.
- A flavorful broth. Tomatoes, vegetable broth, and enchilada sauce create a savory base that coats the beans.
- Easy to customize. You can adjust the seasonings and heat to suit your preferences.
- Perfect for sharing. Make a big batch for family dinners, cookouts, or casual gatherings.
Key Ingredients
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
- Pinto beans & Ranch Style beans: The hearty base of the dish, adding a creamy texture and plenty of satisfying, savory flavor.
- Red enchilada sauce: Brings a rich, tangy flavor that ties the beans, tomatoes, and seasonings together.
- Diced tomatoes: Add a little sweetness, freshness, and extra texture to the bean mixture.
- Onion & garlic: Build a flavorful savory base that makes the beans taste even more delicious.
- Green chiles & jalapeno peppers: Add a little heat and peppery flavor that gives the dish a tasty kick.
- Slap Ya Mama seasoning, cayenne pepper, black pepper & red pepper flakes: Bring bold, savory flavor with plenty of heat for a spicy, flavorful dish.
- Cumin: Adds a warm, earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with the beans and enchilada sauce.
Variations
- Turn up the heat. Add more cayenne or red pepper flakes if you like your beans extra spicy.
- Make them milder. Reduce the cayenne and red pepper flakes for a gentler heat level.
- Add bell peppers. Diced bell peppers can add sweetness, color, and another layer of texture.
- Use chicken broth. If you don’t need the dish to be vegetarian, chicken broth can be used instead of vegetable broth.
- Add corn. Stir in corn for a little sweetness that balances the spicy seasonings.
- Include fresh jalapenos. Add diced jalapenos if you’d like even more pepper flavor.
- Finish with cilantro. Fresh chopped cilantro adds a bright, fresh touch before serving.
- Serve with cheese. Sprinkle shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack over individual bowls for a creamy contrast to the heat.
How to Make Crock Pot Spicy Beans
Step 1: Soak the beans overnight. Then, add all the ingredients to the crock pot and stir to combine.
Step 2: Cook on low or high until the beans are tender. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Soak the pinto beans overnight. Soak the beans overnight to ensure they get nice and tender in the slow cooker.
- Use a large enough slow cooker. A 6-quart or 8-quart crock pot provides room for the beans, vegetables, broth, and sauces.
- Measure the spices before adding them. Having everything ready makes it easier to distribute the seasonings evenly.
- Stir before cooking. A good stir helps the tomatoes, broth, enchilada sauce, and seasonings combine throughout the pot.
- Adjust the heat to your taste. Cayenne, red pepper flakes, and jalapenos all contribute spice, so reduce one or more if you prefer a milder dish.
- Check the beans for tenderness. The stated cooking times are a guide, but dried beans can take longer depending on their age and your slow cooker.
- Don’t serve the beans until they’re fully cooked. Make sure the dried pinto beans are completely tender before eating.
- Taste before serving. The Ranch Style Beans and Slap Ya Mama seasoning both contribute seasoning, so taste before adding more salt or other spices.
- Let the flavors settle. Give the beans a final stir before serving so the broth and seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Plan your toppings ahead. Shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, or sliced jalapenos can be set out for everyone to customize their bowls.
Crock Pot Spicy Beans FAQs
These beans have a noticeable kick from the jalapeno peppers, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes. You can make them milder by reducing the cayenne and red pepper flakes, or increase the heat if you prefer a spicier dish.
Soaking the beans softens them up before cooking and helps prevent cracking. If you don’t soak your beans, they may not fully cook, or they may crack open while cooking.
These beans pair well with tacos, burritos, enchiladas, grilled chicken, barbecue, rice, or cornbread. They also work as a hearty side for a Tex-Mex-inspired dinner.
Yes. You can prepare the beans ahead and reheat them before serving. The beans may absorb more liquid as they sit, so add a little broth when reheating if needed.
Refrigerate your beans in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the beans for up to 2 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Remember to leave a little headroom in your container for expansion.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or reheat the entire batch in a pot over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. You may need to add broth to thin out the beans after refrigeration.
Delicious Pairings for Crock Pot Spicy Beans
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Crock Pot Spicy Beans
Ingredients
- 16 ounce pinto beans, rinsed, cleaned, soaked overnight, drained
- (2) 15 ounce Ranch Style Beans with Sliced Jalapeno Peppers, drained
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 15 ounce petite diced tomatoes
- 10 ounce red enchilada sauce
- 4 ounce diced green chiles
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- In a 6 or 8 quart crockpot, spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add diced onions to the bottom of the crockpot, followed by both types of beans.
- Next, add the minced garlic, diced tomatoes, green chiles, seasonings, enchilada sauce, and vegetable broth.
- Stir, cover, and cook on high for 6 -7 hours or low 9 -10 hours.
Notes
- Soak the pinto beans overnight. Soak the beans overnight to ensure they get nice and tender in the slow cooker.
- Use a large enough slow cooker. A 6-quart or 8-quart crock pot provides room for the beans, vegetables, broth, and sauces.
- Measure the spices before adding them. Having everything ready makes it easier to distribute the seasonings evenly.
- Stir before cooking. A good stir helps the tomatoes, broth, enchilada sauce, and seasonings combine throughout the pot.
- Adjust the heat to your taste. Cayenne, red pepper flakes, and jalapenos all contribute spice, so reduce one or more if you prefer a milder dish.
- Check the beans for tenderness. The stated cooking times are a guide, but dried beans can take longer depending on their age and your slow cooker.
- Don’t serve the beans until they’re fully cooked. Make sure the dried pinto beans are completely tender before eating.
- Taste before serving. The Ranch Style Beans and Slap Ya Mama seasoning both contribute seasoning, so taste before adding more salt or other spices.
- Let the flavors settle. Give the beans a final stir before serving so the broth and seasonings are evenly distributed.
- Plan your toppings ahead. Shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, or sliced jalapenos can be set out for everyone to customize their bowls.
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