Cajun Red Beans Recipe

Place the pinto beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water. Soak beans 15 minutes; drain and rinse.

Heat bacon grease in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir salt pork in hot grease for 1 minute. Add onion celery bell pepper black pepper and chipotle powder to salt pork; cook and stir until the vegetables are soft about 4 minutes.

Stir smoked sausage bay leaves parsley and thyme into salt pork mixture; cook and stir until sausage is browned about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant about 1 minute more.

Stir beans into sausage mixture and add enough water to cover the beans. Bring to a boil remove from heat and transfer beans mixture to a slow cooker.

Cook on High for 1 hour. Reduce to Low and cook until beans are tender adding water as necessary about 6 hours more.

Mash about 1/4 the beans against the side of the slow cooker crock with the back of a heavy spoon. Continue cooking on Low until beans are tender and creamy 15 to 20 minutes more. Remove bay leaves.