Frugal Cooking Dinner Ideas

Easy Pork and Beans Recipes

© Kathy Jackson

Sep 25, 2009

For more than 100 years pork and beans have been a favorite frugal food for many families. The versatile cheap dinner item can be prepared in a crockpot, baked in the oven, cooked stove top or campfire, or made into bread. Pork and beans are more famously known for their place in a good dish of baked beans. Baked beans are a frugal potluck meal idea which can be prepared in a crockpot or roaster.

Crockpot Baked Beans for a Crowd

• 1 tall can and 1 small can pork and beans
• 6 slices bacon, cut up
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3/4 c. catsup
• 3/4 c. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. dry mustard

1. Saute bacon with onion.
2. Add all remaining ingredients together to crock pot and cook covered on low all day.
3. Take off lid last 3 hours to allow the baked beans to thicken
4. Makes about 20 servings.
5. Double the recipe and prepare in a roaster oven for larger crowds.

Pork and Beans mix with a variety of items to make a frugal family meal. These recipes show ways of spicing up the beans by serving as a base for a ground beef bean meal, and for a Pork and Bean Casserole using hot dogs or sausage, The Pork and Bean Casserole is similar to a Beenie Weenie recipe.

Baked Beans and Ground Beef

• 1 large can pork and beans
• 1 lb. ground beef lean cut
• 3 tbsp. onion chopped
• 3 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 bottle ketchup

1. Saute onion and celery in bacon grease.
2. Brown ground beef in bacon greased.
3. Mix with brown sugar, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
4. Bake at 350 for 30 min or slower oven for longer period.

• 3 big cans Pork and Beans
• 1 package of hot dogs
• 1 package of kielbasa or polish sausage
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 small onion, diced

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour beans into a Dutch oven.
2. Slice hot dogs, kielbasa and bacon into bite-sized pieces and dice onion.
3. Add everything to beans and mix.
4. Cover and bake for 45 minutes.
5. Uncover, mix, and bake an additional 15 minutes or until onions are tender.

One of the more unusual ways to good frugal dessert is to make a pork and beans cake. Pork and Bean cake has a texture and taste similar to pumpkin bread.

Pork and Bean Cake

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 can pork and beans
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Grease and flour 2 8X4 loaf pans
2. Mix together sugar, oil, eggs, and beans until smooth.
3. In separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients,
4. then add to bean mixture, stirring until just combined.
5. Stir in raisins and vanilla. Pour into the containers
6. Place pans on a baking sheet and bake at 325 for about 45 -50 minutes.
7. Check with a toothpick. Cool completely and take out of cans.

Pork and Beans Are Easy Versatile Side Dishes

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