Best Ever Pinto Beans

1 pound dried pinto beans

6 cups water, or more as needed to cover

1 smoked ham hock

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 (6.5 ounce) can tomato sauce

Cover pinto beans with water in a large bowl. Soak beans for 4 hours, changing water every 30 to 45 minutes. Drain.

Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large pot. Add pinto beans, ham hock, and kosher salt to the pot. Pour in more water if needed to cover ingredients by at least 1 inch.

Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until beans are just tender, 2 to 3 hours.

Remove ham hock from beans; cut meat from the bone, chop the ham, and return to pot.

Stir tomato sauce and brown sugar into the beans. Continue to simmer until beans are tender and flavors are blended, about 1 more hour.