Discover The History Of Casserole Beans: A West Texas Success Story

If you’ve ever walked down the aisle at your local United--or any other grocery store--and seen Casserole brand beans, you’re looking at a piece of Lubbock history. Since 1946, Russell E. Womack, Inc. right here in the Hub City has been keeping West Texas pantries stocked with some of the best beans around!

What began as a small operation with just three employees focused on pinto beans has turned into one of the country’s leading suppliers of dried beans. Now, they’re not just shipping pinto beans, but black beans, red kidneys, yellow beans—you name a bean, they’ve got it!

The Casserole brand takes pride in quality, which you can taste in every batch. Their beans are known for being light in color, tender, and they cook up fast without the need for soaking. (Although, I ALWAYS soak mine. More on that in a minute!)

That’s a big deal if you’re like most Texans and don’t want to spend all day waiting on dinner. Casserole uses top-notch cleaning techniques to make sure you get a premium product that’s ready to cook.

Today, Casserole beans can be found in over 5,900 stores nationwide, but they’ve never lost that Texas touch. So next time you’re making chili or tossing a pot of beans on the stove, remember those beans in the bag might just come from right here in West Texas.

That's why I ONLY buy Casserole beans. I tend to keep two or three bags around the house just in case i get a hankerin' for red beans and cornbread...and I do fairly often!

Here's how I make mine:

• Soak your Casserole beans for a few hours. (I know they say you don't have to, and you probably don't, but I think it makes them more tender.)
• Fill pot with enough water to cover the beans plus another 4 or so inches of water on top
• Toss in a whole finely-chopped sweeet yellow onion
• 3/4 tablespoon of minced garlic
• 3 bay leaves
• Two tablespoons of Uncle Chris' Gourmet Steak Seasoning
• A HEAPING tablespoon of bacon grease
• Cook on low until tender

Enjoy with some fresh cornbread SLATHERED in real butter. (Now I'm freaking starving!!)

Casserole’s been doing it right for nearly 80 years, proving once again that some of the best things come out of Lubbock, Texas!

Check out this video of a guy showing you how to make 'Southern Style Pinto Beans'--using turkey! I have to admit, it looks pretty dang good...