Classic Pork and Beans
Classic Pork and Beans is a hearty, comforting staple dish consisting of white beans (often navy or great northern beans) simmered with pork, typically salt pork, bacon, or ham, in a sweet and savory tomato-based sauce. It is a quintessential American comfort food with roots in colonial and frontier cooking, where preserved beans and salted meats were pantry essentials. The canned version, popularized in the 20th century, made it a quick and affordable household staple.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is a good source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber from the beans, with moderate fat content depending on the cut of pork used. A typical one-cup serving of the canned variety provides around 200-250 calories, along with notable amounts of iron, folate, and potassium.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 240 kcal |
| Protein | 12 g |
| Carbs | 36 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 8 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
| Potassium | 450 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Calcium | 80 mg |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.2 mg |
| Folate | 60 mcg |
| Magnesium | 50 mg |
| Phosphorus | 150 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, it's a dish that embodies practical American home cooking, often served at picnics, barbecues, and as a simple weeknight meal. Nutritionally, the combination of beans and pork creates a complete protein profile, making it a surprisingly efficient and satisfying meal, especially when paired with cornbread.
