This is a Heritage Recipe

Heritage recipes are culinary treasures passed down through generations, capturing the warmth of family. These time-honored dishes from our bakers are a delicious way to connect with our roots and uphold traditions.

“With this recipe, I won a $100 first prize in the Pinto Bean Recipe Contest on Bean Day in Oslo, Minnesota, in July 1989. The Bean Day Committee even used my recipe the following year. It can be doubled or tripled easily.”

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pinto beans
  • 6 strips raw bacon (cut into small pieces)
  • 2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • ¼ cup diced onion
  • 1 cup firmly packed Imperial Sugar Light Brown Sugar
  • ½ cup catsup
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke 

Instructions

  1. Wash beans and soak overnight or bring beans to a boil and let soak 1 hour in the hot water. Drain and cover with fresh water. Cook until tender, about 1½ hours. Do not drain.
  2. Add raw bacon pieces, mustard and onion. Mix with beans and simmer for ½ hour or until beans are tender.
  3. Add the brown sugar, catsup, molasses and liquid smoke. Mix and pour into 4-quart casserole dish. Bake at 350°F for 1½ to 2 hours.