Frugal, Budget-friendly Ham & Beans

Hello Kitchen Guardians,

I’ll just say it right up front—I’m not a fancy cook. I don’t claim to be a chef, and I’m not trying to impress anyone. But I can cook well enough to keep people fed, and most of the time, that’s all I’m aiming for.

How this meal came to be,

We had a potluck at church recently, and if you’ve ever been to one, you know how that goes. There are always a few women who are just really good cooks. They don’t measure, they don’t follow recipes, and everything they bring is somehow perfect every single time. You don’t try to outdo them. You just hope you don’t take most of it home as leftovers ha ha.

I decided to make ham and beans. Nothing fancy, just solid, comfort food. The problem was I’d never actually made ham and beans before (Not really a Colorado staple), so I’ll just ask around and get a recipe.

That’s when I got the giggles

Not mean, just that kind of giggle that says, bless your heart  They told me there really isn’t a recipe. You just throw a ham bone, some beans, water, and seasoning into a pot and let it cook. That works fine for them, but my brain doesn’t operate that way.

I was always taught follow the recipe the first time then change it.

So I went home and did what we all do now—I Googled it. I needed one that was simple, yet tasty.

I pulled out my electric roaster because I like using it for long-cooking meals and large quantities (after all this is for a potluck)  It’s steady, it holds heat well, and I don’t have to babysit it too much. I put the beans in, added the ham bone, poured in water, and added the seasonings the recipe called for.

2 lbs of soaked pinto beans to start this yummy dish!

You could also sub a couple smoked turkey legs.

As it cooked, I started making small changes. Nothing dramatic. Just adjusting as I went, based on taste and what I knew my family would like. By the time it was done, it had wandered away from the original recipe, but in a good way.

Can you really ever have TOO much garlic?

I really like the flavor these tomato & chicken bouillon cubes have.

Frozen onions would work well here too.

Not much paprika, but I think it adds to the flavor.

Check the video to see a great tip for getting all the tomato paste out easily!

Last but not least the water brings it all together.

It was time for the taste test!

When potluck day came, I’ll admit I was a little nervous. Those same ladies who said you don’t need a recipe were going to be eating it. Pretty soon the compliments started coming in and it felt great I felt like one of them making a dish that people went back for seconds and best of all my family really liked it!

That’s about as good as it gets at a church potluck.

Ham and beans isn’t quick food. It takes time, and it doesn’t like to be rushed. But that’s part of the charm. It’s warm, filling, and the kind of meal that makes the house smell good while it’s cooking. Nothing flashy. Just honest food.

So if you’ve never made ham and beans because you thought it was too vague or you didn’t know where to start, don’t let that stop you. Find a recipe if you need one. Taste it as it cooks. Trust yourself a little. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be good.

Thank you for stopping by. Your visit is a blessing to me and hopefully to you too. Make sure you come back for recipes and more.