Prairie Crispy Fried Salt Pork: A True Pioneer Meal

If you’re immersing your family in a Little House on the Prairie Unit Study, one of the most meaningful ways to bring pioneer life right into your homeschool kitchen is through authentic, hands-on historical cooking. Today, we’re making a classic frontier-style supper: prairie crispy fried salt pork, mashed potatoes, tender green beans, and homemade gravy, just the kind of hearty meal the Ingalls family might have enjoyed on the open prairie.

Read More! Click here if you’d like to learn a bit more about our plans for this Little House on the Prairie Unit study and to see all the bits and pieces in our adventure box.

Salt pork was a dependable staple for homesteaders. Because it was cured and preserved, it kept well through long winters and unpredictable weather. Pa often relied on salt pork as a quick, filling protein after long days of work. Recreating prairie crispy fried salt pork gives children a genuine taste of 1800s resourcefulness and simplicity. This is perfect for enriching your Little House on the Prairie Unit Study.

Another great DIY! Click here and learn how to make your own DIY prairie mattress to go in your little house.

Why Pioneer Meals Were Simple and Essential

On the frontier, meals had to be practical. Families relied on preserved meats like salt pork, root vegetables stored in cellars, and fresh produce from their small gardens. Eating seasonally wasn’t a trend, it was survival.

Understanding these foods helps children step directly into Laura’s world: a world of hard work, gratitude, and plain but comforting meals.

Check it out! Click here to find out how we made some prairie nightdresses from a couple of pillowcases

Ingredients for Your Complete Prairie Meal

Prairie Crispy Fried Salt Pork

• 1–1.5 lbs salt pork slices
• Water for soaking
• Freshly ground pepper (optional)

Mashed Potatoes

• 4–5 large potatoes
• ¼–½ cup milk or cream
• 2–4 tbsp butter
• Salt

Green Beans

• 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
• 1 tbsp butter or pork drippings
• Salt

Homemade Gravy

• Drippings from the salt pork
• 2–3 tbsp flour
• 1–1½ cups milk or water
• Salt & pepper

How to Make Prairie Crispy Fried Salt Pork

Step 1: Soak the Salt Pork

Prairie families often relied on salt pork because it stayed good for months, but it needed soaking to remove excess salt. Rinse the slices, then soak them in cool water for 10–20 minutes. Pat dry before frying.

Step 2: Heat Your Skillet

Warm a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, just as a pioneer cook would have done on a woodstove or hearth.

Step 3: Fry Until Crispy

Add the slices to the hot skillet. Salt pork releases its own fat, so additional grease isn’t necessary. Fry until the edges are browned and crispy, flipping once. This creates the signature prairie crispy fried salt pork texture, crunchy outside, tender inside.

Set the finished slices aside on a warm plate. The leftover drippings will become the base of your homemade gravy.

Mashed Potatoes the Pioneer Way

Step 1: Boil the Potatoes

Peel and chop the potatoes. Boil in salted water until soft.

Step 2: Mash Simply

Drain the potatoes and mash with butter and milk or cream. Prairie mashed potatoes were rustic and hearty, not overly whipped.

Step 3: Season Lightly

Add salt to taste. Pepper was considered a luxury, so use sparingly if you want closer historical accuracy.

Simple Buttered Green Beans

Step 1: Cook the Beans

Boil fresh green beans in lightly salted water for 8–10 minutes.

Step 2: Add Flavor

Drain and toss with butter or, for a more authentic frontier flavor, use a spoonful of drippings from the salt pork.

Another Pioneer Recipe! Click here to find out how to make some prairie cornbread

How to Make Homemade Pioneer Gravy

Step 1: Heat the Drippings

Return your cast-iron skillet to medium heat. The flavorful fat left behind from frying the salt pork is exactly what pioneers depended on.

Step 2: Make the Roux

Sprinkle the flour into the drippings and whisk until smooth and bubbling.

Step 3: Add Liquid Slowly

Pour in milk or water a little at a time, whisking constantly. Milk makes a richer gravy, but water was often more available.

Step 4: Simmer & Season

Simmer until thickened. Add salt or pepper (sparingly) as needed.

Serve the gravy over the mashed potatoes and even the crispy salt pork, if you wish.

Click here for another prairie recipes – making sweet prairie pancakes

Bringing History to Life in Your Little House on the Prairie Unit Study

Cooking prairie crispy fried salt pork with mashed potatoes, green beans, and homemade gravy is more than a meal. It’s a living-history experience. It allows children to:

• Taste the foods the Ingalls family relied on
• Learn how preservation and resourcefulness shaped pioneer diets
• Use hands-on skills to deepen learning
• Understand how simple ingredients made nourishing meals
• Connect reading with sensory, immersive experiences

You can pair this cooking project with:
📘 A chapter from Little House in the Big Woods or On the Prairie
📝 A notebooking or narration activity
🌾 A discussion on food preservation, sustainability, or homestead chores
🎨 A drawing of a prairie kitchen scene

It’s an unforgettable way to enrich your Little House on the Prairie Unit Study and create meaningful family memories.

For more activities please do visit my MEGA Little House on the Prairie Unit Study page, which contains all ten weeks of our summer building our own Little House on the Prairie!