ABOUT US

In the summer of 1943, Ken Freiberg began his career as a firefighter in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1953 he was promoted to Captain of Firehouse Number 14. It was customary for each fireman to cook meals for their fellow firefighters, and Captain Ken’s specialty was oven-baked beans with bacon. Word spread, and people from miles around would stop by the fire station hoping to sample some of Captain Ken’s mouthwatering beans.

After lots of enticement, Ken sold his first dish of oven-baked beans at a Minnesota State Fair food stand in 1964. It was a hit! A few years later, at the age of 55, Ken retired from the fire department and started Captain Ken’s Foods.

Today, more than 55 years later, we follow that same slow, oven-baked process to make beans from scratch. But Ken didn’t stop at beans! He created many other delicious recipes, including Original Firehouse Chili. Through the years, more favorites have followed, such as Tater Tot Casserole, taco meats, Chicken Chili, Gramma D’s Beans, Macaroni and Cheese, and much more. All products are made using premium ingredients, pre-cooked and flash frozen to lock in freshness, resulting in quality and a homemade taste you’ll remember!