🥘 Crockpot Great Northern Beans
🧾 Ingredients (Serves 6–8)
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1 lb dried Great Northern beans, rinsed and sorted
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1 onion, chopped
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1–2 carrots, diced
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2 stalks celery, diced
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6 cups vegetable or chicken broth (enough to cover beans)
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1 tsp salt (add later in cooking)
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½ tsp black pepper
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1 tsp dried thyme (optional)
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1–2 bay leaves (optional)
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Optional: ½ lb smoked ham hock or bacon for flavor
🔪 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep Beans
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Rinse beans and remove any debris.
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Optional: soak beans overnight or use quick-soak method (boil 2 min, cover, sit 1 hour) to reduce cooking time.
2️⃣ Add Ingredients to Crockpot
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Place beans, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme, bay leaves, and meat (if using) in crockpot.
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Pour in broth until beans are just covered.
3️⃣ Cook
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Low heat: 6–8 hours
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High heat: 3–4 hours
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Check beans for tenderness near the end of cooking.
4️⃣ Season & Serve
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Remove bay leaves and meat (if desired).
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Stir in salt and pepper at the end (adding salt too early can toughen beans).
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Serve warm with bread, rice, or as a side.
🟢 Tips
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Creamy beans: Stir occasionally to break down some beans, creating a thick, stew-like texture.
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Flavor boost: Add 1–2 tsp smoked paprika or a splash of vinegar for depth.
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Vegetarian version: Omit meat and use extra broth and herbs for flavor.
🔁 Variations
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Tuscan style: add chopped tomatoes, rosemary, and a splash of olive oil
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Spicy beans: add diced jalapeño or cayenne pepper
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Bean soup: add more broth and diced potatoes for a hearty soup
If you want, I can make a “dump-and-go crockpot version” that takes 5 minutes to prep and cooks unattended for 8 hours — minimal chopping and maximum flavor.
Do you want me to do that?