When I was a kid, my dad would make a meal that he called “beans, beans, and meat”. It was two different types of canned beans, and ground beef. We would gobble it up. I still made it as an adult for quite a while also because it was such a nostalgic meal.
We have grown some beans for drying and storing the past couple of years. Last year, we grew a variety called good mother stallard beans. They are a beautiful, deep purple and cream color when they’re fully dry. It’s a large bean that gets so velvety when cooked. This year, we’ve lined almost the entire 40 foot north end of our garden in these vining bean plants, and I can’t wait to see how much we get squirreled away from them to eat over the next year.
I wanted to share my version of “beans and meat” with you. Obviously, there’s only one kind of bean instead of two.
Instant Pot Beans and Meat
1 yellow onion- diced
2 Tbsp avocado oil or animal fat
1 lb ground beef
4 cups bone broth or stock
1 lb of dried good mother stallard beans (you will want to soak these overnight)
1-2 cans of green chiles (depends on how spicy you like your food)
2 tsp oregano
4 T minced garlic
2 bay leaves
2 T maple syrup (optional, I just felt like it needed a hint of sweet)
salt and pepper to taste
1. The day before, put your dried beans into a bowl and fill the rest of the way with water. The beans are going to double in size, so make sure you have extra room in your bowl and plenty of water. When it’s time to make your beans, strain all of the water off.
2. Turn your instant pot to the sauté function and add your oil. Once the oil is heated up, add your diced onion. Stir it often until your onions are translucent.
3. Add your ground beef and cook until browned. I like to add my salt, pepper, and garlic at this stage.
4. Add in the rest of your ingredients to the pot. Stir them up and put the lid on.
5. Set your instant pot to cook on high pressure for an hour and a half. Let it naturally release the pressure.
6. Remove the bay leaves. Spoon into bowls or onto a baked potato and enjoy!
I like to add some sour cream on top. This recipe fed my family of five with a small bowl left over.
This recipe isn’t fussy. It’s also super budget friendly. The meat could be left off if you’re in a pinch. You can use whatever onion you have on hand. Dried pinto beans would work well in this recipe. You can add fresh, chopped peppers to your “beans and meat”. The sky is the limit. I hope you try them out and let me know what you think!
