This Pork and Beans Recipe is the easiest, fastest and tastiest made from scratch pork and beans you will ever make.
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Pork and beans are one of the most popular side dishes to any slow-cooked meat at family cookouts.
Growing up we used to call it pork n beans and we would either have it from the can, semi-homemade from canned beans, or homemade from dry beans.
My favorite is from canned beans like the recipe below. It saves me some time and I get to have them ready for dinner the same day with little effort and the same great taste!
One thing I love is that my recipe is so easy that all skill levels will be able to make it. Which means the kids can make you dinner and/or help in the kitchen.
What Are Pork And Beans
Well, there are many variations. Depending on where you live will depend on how you like your beans and pork.
But the traditional pork and beans are simply salt pork or bacon, beans with pepper to taste. That’s it. It is a basic recipe and it is often used in frugal households to fill bellies and save money.
How Do You Thicken Pork And Beans?
My grandma used to say that the bean liquor was the best part of the beans, and I tend to agree.
In order to preserve the liquor, so she would take out a cup of the cooked beans and juice and then mash them down with a potato masher. Then add the mashed beans and liquid back into the pot and let them cook again.
I am thickening my recipe in two ways. One by allowing it to cook longer which will help the bean liquid to thicken and reduce on its own creating the bean liquor I love so much.
And secondly, with nutritional yeast. I know, it’s not something you find in old-fashioned southern cooking, but just trust me on this one.
I want to add in a wonderful deliciousness that you can’t get with just mashing the beans and adding them back in. The complex flavors of the nutritional yeast add so much to the dish, without changing the flavor at all!
Of course, this doesn’t mean I still won’t take out a cup and smash them, I am not about to break the tradition I grew up on. I love the different textures that my grandma’s method gives the beans.
But instead of mashing the beans during cooking, I do it upon serving with this recipe.
What Do You Eat With Pork And Beans?
Traditional recipes will often state that the beans and pork dish be served with a side of cornbread, biscuits, or a hot dog bun spread with butter.
We will often make garlic bread out of a hot dog bun and use it for dipping. It’s sweet and savory and less time than whipping up something homemade. Especially when you are making old-fashioned pork and beans from scratch, you will want to take the time to savor these beans, even during the cooking process.
You can eat just about anything with pork and beans. But here are a few that are more popular with our family
- Bread and Butter
- Saltine Crackers
- Tortillas
- Hot Dogs
Why Is It Called Pork And Beans?
Pork and beans get their name for their main ingredients, pork, and beans. Each having been a traditional staple of the American diet for hundreds of years.
What Kind Of Beans Are Used In Pork And Beans
Pork and beans are traditionally made from white beans. Here is a list that you can swap out to make this recipe your own.
- Great Northern Beans
- Cannellini Beans
- Navy Beans
- Pinto Beans
There are so many varieties of delicious beans that you can use for your beans and pork recipe but great northern, cannellini, navy is my go-to beans to use.
Want To Make This Recipe In The Oven or Slow Cooker?
The fact is that you can make it on the stovetop, oven, Instantpot, or even slow cooker with just a few minor adjustments.
If you need your burners for other dishes or just want to make it more of a dump-and-go meal, then you can use the following instructions to make it in the oven or slow cooker.
Oven Method:
In a large oven-safe skillet, lightly brown the bacon. Then add the remaining ingredients, combine well, and place them in the oven.
Bake the beans at 350 degrees for around 3 hours to get them cooked down and allowing them to thicken.
Slow Cooker Method:
Start by cooking the bacon in the bottom of your slow cooker. I put mine on high with the bacon in it so that I can get all the other ingredients ready to add to the crockpot. Usually around 10 minutes.
Then add in the remaining ingredients and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours.
NOTE: Do not add the additional oil from the recipe to the slow cooker or the oven method. Since bacon tends to produce enough fat. If you add the additional oil, depending on the cut of your bacon, it could make your pork and beans taste too greasy. You can always add oil add the end if needed, but you can’t take it out.
Are Pork And Beans The Same As Baked Beans?
So, I will simply say yes, pork and beans are the same as baked beans in different parts of the US.
Here are some facts that can help determine your answer for pork and beans:
Pork and beans are lighter in color (using little to no molasses)
They tend to be more savory and less sweet
Not as thick
Have more liquid
Less expensive than baked beans
Baked beans can often call for a lot more ingredients, making them more expensive. For example, the addition of smoked bacon, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, chili seasoning, sausage, ground beef, and/or brisket. The list goes on and on. Again, this will depend on the region that you live in.
Ingredients
- Brown Sugar
- Tomato Sauce
- Bacon
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cannellini beans (Navy Beans can also be used)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Dry Mustard
- Crushed Tomatoes
- Worcheschire
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Dr. Pepper, optional
- Nutritional Yeast
- Oil
- Additional salt and pepper to taste
Why I Am Using Dr. Pepper
Most of the recipes for pork and beans that you see nowadays will call for molasses to sweeten the recipe and to add a deep rich color.
But instead of using molasses on its own, I prefer the old school tradition that my grandma used, which is Dr.Pepper. It is full of its special blend of spices as well as molasses and sasparilla.
Once Dr. Pepper is cooked down it does allow for the molasses to come through. And the sasparilla brings in the caramel sweet taste which adds to the oddly complex yet versatile flavor that I prefer.
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Double Decker Taco
Sourdough Tacos
Egg Roll In A Bowl
Stuffed French Toast
Pork And Beans
Ingredients
- 2 cans Great Northern Beans oz
- 1 slice Bacon Center cut
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1/4 cup Onion Diced
- 2 cloves Garlic Crished
- 1/4 tsp Dry Mustard
- 1 cup Crushed Tomatoes
- 1/8 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/4 tsp Worcheschire Sauce
- 2 tbsp Dr. Pepper
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
Instructions
- In a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat add bacon. Cook bacon for 3 minutes to render out the bacon fat. Because it adds flavor to the dish.
- Add oil, onions, garlic, mustard and saute for 5 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce and stir to combine.
- Next, add beans, Dr. Pepper, Worcheschire, salt, pepper, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, and brown sugar.
- Then cook for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Lower the heat to low and then cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
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