Slow Cooker Pizza Beans

📝Shopping list

To make this amazing recipe, you will need these ingredients. This is just a list for grocery shopping.  For quantities and full preparation instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

• navy beans rinsed and drained
• cannellini beans rinsed and drained
• great northern beans rinsed and drained
• marinara sauce - use your favorite.  I am a huge fan of Raos.  
• portabella mushrooms sliced
• small white or red onions sliced
• pepperoni  I use turkey pepperoni (personal preference). To keep this dish vegetarian, use plant-based or omit.
• mozzarella cheese shredded and divided - some for in the dish and some for on top
• parmesan cheese shredded or grated
• Italian seasoning
• black olives sliced, optional garnish

🔪Instructions

This great recipe involves just a few simple steps:

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

• 🫘 Toss all your beans into your greased slow cooker
• 🫘 Add in all remaining ingredients except for toppings and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese
• 🫘 Stir to fully combine
• 🫘 Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.  
• 🫘 After cooking time, top with the remaining mozzarella cheese, black olives, and any other favorite pizza toppings.  
• 🫘 When the mozzarella melts, serve and enjoy!!!

🍽Serving suggestions

This dish is great served with:

• A crisp simple green salad 🥗
• A crunchy toasted garlic bread 🥖
• Crackers or flat bread 🫓
• Whole roasted cauliflower 🥦 (why isn't there a cauliflower emoji?) 
• Sweet corn spoonbread 🌽

🔁Substitution ideas

• To make this dish vegetarian, swap turkey pepperoni for vegan pepperoni or vegan sausage crumbles
• Alternatively, you can add any of your favorites such as Italian sausage.
• Are you a garlic fan?  Add some minced fresh garlic cloves into the sauce at the start of cooking
• I prefer white beans with this recipe, but any beans will work beautifully.  Butter beans, black beans, pinto beans, and creamy gigante beans are all great in this recipe. 
• Try pizza sauce in place of marinara for a slightly sweeter taste.  Use pizza cheese blend in place of mozzarella for a different flavor profile.  
• To spice it up, top with red pepper flakes, hot pepper sauce, and/or hot banana peppers.  
• Do you have a favorite pizza topping?  Give your crockpot pizza beans a "favorite upgrade" by adding in the deluxe pizza flavorings you love.  Pineapple, green bell pepper, sauteed broccoli raab, and crushed tomatoes are all great additions to this beans recipe.  

😉Hints & hacks

1. These easy slow cooker pizza beans are terrific any day of the week. They can stay on the warm setting in your slow cooker.  Perfect for when your people will be eating at different times.
2. If you are a bean fan, you will also love pumpkin chili and Madras Lentils! 
3. Hate cutting veggies? Onions are available pre-cut in the market. They are often in the fresh vegetable section but are more economical purchased in the frozen vegetable section.
4. I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price. 
5. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
6. Always double check to make sure your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! Coming home to a cold slow cooker is the worst! 🙄