Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

Ingredients

• 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 6 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 10 cups water
• 4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped or sliced
• 1 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 1 (1-pound) package dried pinto beans, rinsed
• 1 smoked ham hock
• 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
• 2 tablespoons minced cilantro

Directions

Put the ham hock, beans, onion and garlic in a slow cooker. Add the water and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours or overnight. Remove and discard the ham hock.

Add the salt, bacon, tomatoes, green chiles and cilantro and cook on low another 15 minutes. Beans can be refrigerated at this point and reheated close to serving time. The beans thicken when cooled, and the flavor will improve when the beans are cooked overnight and reheated the next day.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Note: For spicier beans, add 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped.