Pinto Beans and Cornbread

Pinto Beans and Cornbread Memories

My mom and grandmother were wonderful cooks and they loved cooking. I learned everything I know from being with them in the kitchen. One of their favorite go-to meals consisted of pinto beans and cornbread. To me they go together like peanut butter and jelly or cake and ice cream.

pinto beans and cornbread

My dad was a meat and potatoes kind of guy and so usually there were pork chops, tenderloin, or some sort of meat with our meal and mashed potatoes. When I was young I wasn’t crazy about cornbread but that changed. It’s easy to make and my favorite way to eat it is right when it comes out of the oven with butter on top.I’ve known people that crumble their cornbread up in their bowl of beans and eat them that way, but that never appealed to me. What I DID discover I love is ketchup on pinto beans. Before you turn up your nose and declare that strange, I have cousins who eat beans with mayonnaise on them! Mom loved sauerkraut on her pinto beans (yuck). My Grandma Layne would sometimes crumble cornbread in a glass of buttermilk and eat/drink it that way.

pinto beans and cornbread

I’m not sure if beans and cornbread are a fixture in every American home but I do know that they have been a staple in my life ever since I was born. I wouldn’t be surprised if mom or grandma didn’t mash them up and feed them to me when I was a toddler.

How I Cook Pinto Beans and Cornbread

Wash the beans and sort to get rid of any bad beans. One cupful will feed most families but I do two. Heat my water on stove before I put beans in. Salt is optional. Ham pieces or bacon strips are optional too. It adds a lot of flavor and I always toss either ham or bacon in. Then boil on high but stir frequently. Turn down and boil on low until beans are tender. Don’t put your beans on and go work on your computer without stirring your beans or you will scorch them (yes, that’s a reminder to me!)

Cornbread

I use Martha White self-rising corn meal (yellow). I also use my grandmother’s cast iron skillets. I pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Then I pour 2 cups corn meal in a large bowl. I beat 2 eggs in a small bowl and beat them and then add them to mix. Then I pour not quite 2 cups milk in and mix it with a whisk until all lumps are gone. Set aside.

Put skillet on stove eye and put just enough crisco to cover the bottom of the skillet to keep corn bread from sticking. When it is hot pour batter in it and put in oven. Bake until golden brown.

You can cut this recipe in half but you will need a smaller skillet.

How about you? Are you a pinto bean and cornbread fan? How do you like to eat them?

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16 Comments

  1. Hey Karen! I think sauerkraut stinks too! Several people mentioned chili and cornbread. I had never heard of that combination! Good to know! Thanks for stopping by and do come back!

  4. Oh my, that looks good! I grew up on this too. My mom still makes it about once every week or two. And a lot of times, there would be fried potatoes, as well! I usually put either buttered cornbread or fried potatoes in the bowl, then put the beans over it. But my absolute favorite was when she made drop dumplings in with the beans!!! Oh my gosh! Comfort food to the 10th degree! And I have different family members that do all the “weird” things. LOL Since it is Spring now, and I mentioned fried potatoes, my mind is now also leaning towards ramps! Fried potatoes with bacon and ramps is a Spring tonic to us! Thanks for sharing, and have a great day!

  5. Nope we never did these in the house growing up! My dad was gassy enough!!! bwahahahaha We were more of an Italian family and Dad was more of a meat & potatoes kinda guy! hahahaha Have a great day!

  6. My first husband ate his pintos with mayonaise on it, and it was very hard for me to look at them that way. I can not do sauer kraut. When I was pregnant with my son 48 years ago, we lived on the third floor of a 3 story house in Germany (hubby was in the Army) and the old German lady who lived on the first floor was making sauer kraut for the first month that I lived there. I was so sick every day from the smell.
    I love corn bread, I made some last night with a pot of chili. I love to eat cornbread with butter, too. I love it with some white Karo syrup on it for dessert, too.

  8. If you are ever in Kentucky let me know and I’ll fix you some Pinto Beans and Cornbread!

  11. I don’t think I’ve ever had this combination but have had other kinds of beans and cornbread like black beans with some heat or of course baked beans. And I love cornbread with chicken, baked, broasted or fried, cajun food or chili. Something about cornbread and spice that is so complimentary.

  15. My family loves pinto beans and cornbread! I have even cooked a chuck roast with pinto beans and rotel tomatoes with chili peppers. OMG sooooooo good ! With fried cornbread!

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