History

Pinto beans and cornbread is the foundational Appalachian working-class meal: protein, starch, salt and pork fat from the smokehouse, all in one pot, with the cornbread cracklin'd in a hot cast-iron skillet greased with bacon drippings. Sunspot on Cumberland Avenue, Litton's in Fountain City and Pete's downtown all run pinto-bean plates on the regular menu, the East Tennessee canon of the dish kept close to the country original.

Common allergens: Dairy, Eggs

Make it at home

Yield 6Hands-on 20 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 1 pound dried pinto beans, sorted and rinsed
  • 1 ham hock or 4 oz country ham trim
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups stone-ground yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons bacon drippings or butter

Method

  1. Soak the pinto beans in cold water overnight. Drain.
  2. Combine the beans, ham hock, onion, garlic and 6 cups water in a heavy pot.
  3. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook over low heat 90 minutes until the beans are tender.
  4. Season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking uncovered to thicken the liquid, 15 more minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, heat oven to 425 F. Put a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with the bacon drippings in the oven to heat.
  6. Whisk cornmeal, baking soda, buttermilk and egg in a bowl until just combined.
  7. Pour the batter into the hot skillet and bake 18 to 22 minutes until golden and a tester comes out clean.
  8. Serve bowls of beans with wedges of warm cornbread.

Tip from the editors. The hot cast-iron skillet is essential for the cornbread crust. Don't skip preheating it with the fat.

Where to eat pinto beans and cornbread

Pinto Beans and Cornbread in Knoxville

Litton's Market and Restaurant ★ 4.7

Burgers$$fountain-cityMon-Sat 11:00-20:00; closed Sun

Littons Market on Essary Drive is the 1946 Fountain City burger counter that anchors North Knoxvilles hometown dining without leaving its residential setting.

Why locals love it: The Fountain City burger counter since 1946 has anchored North Knoxville's hometown dining without ever leaving its residential setting.

Tip: Cash and card both work; the bakery case sells out by mid-afternoon. Closed Sundays.

2803 Essary Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918

Sunspot ★ 4.4

Southwestern$$the-stripMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 10:00-23:00; Sun 10:00-22:00

Sunspot on Cumberland Avenue, the multicultural Southwestern and Caribbean room on the UT Strip since the 1990s, anchors Knoxville's student-area dining.

Signature: Sweet potato burrito, Sunspot bowl

Order: The sweet potato burrito with black beans, or the Sunspot bowl of the season.

Tip: UT home football Saturdays run packed; weeknights and weekend brunch are reliably easier.

2200 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916

Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop ★ 4.6

BrunchDiner breakfast$$$8-15downtownMon-Fri 06:30-14:00; Sat-Sun 07:00-14:00Walk-in only

Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Union Avenue, the downtown diner since 1986, runs breakfast counter service voted Best Breakfast in Knoxville seven.

Order: Country ham and eggs with grits

Tip: Closes 14:00 daily; weekend lines form before 09:00 and weekdays move faster.

540 Union Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902

More cities are in research. Want pinto beans and cornbread covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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