This slow cooker recipe featuring green beans, potatoes, and ham is a hearty, comforting meal that’s perfect for any season. Packed with savory flavors and spices, it’s an easy-to-make dish that lets the slow cooker do most of the work for you.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound pork hock or 2 cups cooked ham chunks
- 36 ounces green beans, fresh or frozen, cut into bite-size pieces
- 4 large potatoes (yellow or red, skin on), cut into bite-size chunks
- 3 cups water
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1-2 tablespoons oil (just a drizzle)
Instructions:
Prepare the Ingredients:
- Ham Hock and Ham Chunks: Prepare your pork hock or ham chunks. Leave the pork hock whole if using, as it will be removed and chopped later. If using pre-cooked ham chunks, ensure they are in bite-sized pieces.
- Green Beans: If using fresh or frozen green beans, cut them into bite-size pieces for even cooking.
- Potatoes: Thoroughly wash the potatoes and cut them into bite-sized chunks, aiming for about 1-inch pieces to ensure they cook evenly.
- Spices and Seasonings: Measure out the dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, ground cloves, and ground cinnamon.
Assemble the Crockpot:
- Layering: Place the pork hock or ham chunks at the bottom of the crockpot.
- Adding Vegetables and Water: Add the green beans and then the potato chunks. Pour in 3 cups of water, ensuring it covers the vegetables and ham sufficiently.
Season the Dish:
- Spice Mix: Evenly sprinkle the thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, ground cloves, and ground cinnamon over the ingredients in the crockpot.
- Drizzle Oil: Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of oil over the top to help bring out the flavors of the spices and keep the ingredients moist.
Cooking Time:
- High Setting: Cook on high for 4 hours if you need the dish ready faster.
- Low Setting: For a more gradual cooking process, cook on low for 6-7 hours, perfect for starting the dish in the morning if you’ll be out for the day.
Finishing Touches:
- Removing and Chopping Ham: Once the vegetables are cooked through, remove the ham hock from the crockpot. Allow it to cool slightly before chopping it into bite-sized pieces.
- Return Ham to Crockpot: Add the chopped ham back into the crockpot, stirring to combine all the ingredients.
- Warming: Set the crockpot to the warm setting while you prepare to serve the dish, keeping everything hot and ready without overcooking.
Serve this deliciously tender and flavorful slow cooker dish hot, perfect for a filling dinner that brings the comfort of home-cooked meals to your table with minimal effort.
