As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Make Baked Beans from scratch with this easy recipe, in the oven or in the crockpot. They’re savory, tasty and so flavorful, smoky with a sweet undertone. Homemade baked beans are the perfect side dish for BBQ, picnics, dinners and breakfasts.
We came back from America with a luggage full of pork and beans cans. Since my girlfriend made me try those beans, they’ve become my latest obsession. But unfortunately they are pretty hard to find here in Europe, you can’t get them at the grocery store as in the States. So, after running through all 15 cans in less than a month, I decided to make my own. That’s how I came up with this home made baked beans recipe from scratch. Quick and easy to make, it’s great for barbecues, potlucks and cozy meals at home.
What are baked beans made of?
This easy baked beans recipe requires just a handful of simple ingredients, all of which can easily be adapted to your own preferences. From the best type of beans to sauces and seasonings, here is everything you need to know.
- Dried or can beans. The best baked beans recipe uses dried navy beans, also known as haricot beans. If you don’t want to soak and cook them at home, replace with can beans such as Bush baked beans, Campbell’s pork n beans, or Heinz. Cannellini beans (dried or canned) are a great alternative to navy beans.
- Bacon. Baked beans with bacon have a smokier and richer flavor thanks to the bacon grease. For a vegetarian dish, either skip it or use plant based slices of bacon.
- Onion. I recommend yellow onion, but also red onion is okay.
- Ketchup and tomato paste. Instead of just ketchup, I like mixing it with tomato paste. It gives the perfect touch of acidity and sweetness, and provides a richer texture. You can use just ketchup, or replace with barbecue sauce.
- Molasses and brown sugar. These two ingredients are added to give the dish its classic sweet taste. Boston baked beans are usually made molasses, but you can substitute with maple syrup.
- Apple cider vinegar. Besides adding the right amount of acidity, vinegar helps preserve the food for longer.
- Sauces and seasonings. You’ll need Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and salt to taste.
- Chicken broth. Simmering and baking beans in chicken broth is a secret that will make the dish richer in taste and flavors. I always cook with low sodium chicken broth, but you can stick to regular chicken broth, or use vegetable broth or water.
How to make baked beans from scratch?
Soak and cook dried beans – skip to the next step if using canned beans.
Place the dried beans into a large pot and cover with cold water. Let soak for 8 to 12 hours. Drain the beans, then cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook on low medium heat for 1 to 1 ½ hour, until the beans are tender. Once they are ready, drain and set aside.
Sauté and simmer.
Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven, then add in diced bacon and onion. Sauté until golden brown, then stir in all ingredients aside from beans. Add to the sautéed onion ketchup, tomato paste, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and spices. Simmer for about 2 minutes, then add the cooked beans – or drained can beans – and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for additional 5 minutes.
Cook baked beans in oven.
Transfer flavored beans to a prepared baking dish or keep in your Dutch oven, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2 to 2 ½ hours in the low-medium position of the oven. Bake uncovered for the last 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let thicken. Serve right away or store for later.
Slow cooker baked beans recipe
The best thing about this recipe is that you don’t really need an oven, because you can also use an instant pot. The baked bean crock pot method is very simple. Place your cooked beans into a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Let cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
Recipe variations
- Baked beans using canned beans. Replace dried with canned baked beans, you’ll need two 15 oz cans or a large 30 oz can.
- Maple or honey baked beans. Instead of molasses, spoon in maple syrup or honey.
- BBQ baked beans. BBQ sauce is a great alternative to ketchup and tomato sauce.
- Sugar free baked beans. Substitute brown sugar with sugar-free granular sweeteners and molasses with a keto liquid syrup of your choice.
- Vegetarian and vegan baked beans. Cook your beans in vegetable broth or water, replace bacon with plant based bacon, sausage, minced burgers or ground meat.
Serving ideas
Whether you’re cooking baked beans for a crowd or just for the family, the ways to serve them are endless. I like pairing mine with grilled chicken or hamburger, the meaty taste goes so well with this creamy dish. Here are some more serving ideas for you.
- As a side for meat: Pair baked beans with hamburger, sausages, chicken and hot dogs, a classic BBQ side dish.
- With eggs: Serve alongside fried eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for an English breakfast beans dish.
- In a breakfast burrito: Roll up baked beans in a tortilla with brown rice, ground beef, cheese and veggies for a tasty burrito.
- Over rice: Spoon over fluffy white rice for a satisfying and budget-friendly meal.
- In a jacket potato: Stuff a baked potato with warm baked beans, shredded cheddar and a dollop of sour cream for a comforting lunch or dinner.
- On toast: Make baked beans and toast for a quick and hearty breakfast or dinner.
After baking, let cool completely at room temperature. Once they have cooled, transfer baked baked beans to an airtight food container and refrigerate. In the fridge, leftovers will last for 2 to 3 days. To reheat, bake in hot oven or microwave until they are ready to serve.
Dried haricot or navy beans can be purchased from your local grocery store. They are usually located in the aisle where you find rice, pasta and dried legumes. If you can’t find them dry, get a large 30 oz baked beans can, or two 15 oz cans.
There are many foods you can add to jazz up this dish. I like preparing baked beans with bacon, but you can make them with ham, sausage or ground beef. Use plant based meat, bacon or sausages in case you are vegan.
More healthy side dishes
- Deviled egg potato salad
- Air fryer zucchini fries
- Low calorie French fries
- Healthy zucchini fritters
- Simple potato fritters
- Carrot fries
- Air fryer tortilla chips
Baked Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 oz dried navy/ haricot beans, replace with 2 cans navy or cannellini beans (15 oz can)
- 3.5 oz bacon, cut into thick dices
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 tbsp ketchup
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tbsp molasses, replace with maple syrup
- 1 ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 to 2 tsp salt, to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ⅓ tsp ground pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth, replace with vegetable broth or water
Instructions
Soak and cook dried beans (skip if using canned beans)
- Place the dried beans into a large pot and cover with cold water. Let soak for 8 to 12 hours.
- Drain the beans, then cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook on low medium heat for 1 to 1 ½ hour, until the beans are tender. Once they are ready, drain and set aside.
Bake beans
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) a grease a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with olive oil or butter.
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven, then add in diced bacon and onion. Sauté until golden brown, then stir in all ingredients aside from beans. Add ketchup, tomato paste, molasses or maple syrup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and spices. Cook for about 2 minutes, then add cooked beans (or drained can beans) and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes more.
- Transfer flavored beans to the prepared baking dish (or keep in your Dutch oven), cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2 to 2 ½ hours in the low-medium position of the oven. Bake uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let thicken while the homemade baked beans cool for about 5 minutes. Serve right away or store for later (see notes for storage information).
Crockpot baked beans recipe
- Instead of baking beans in the oven, place into a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Let cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
Special flavor this bean! I liked it?
Oh yes, I completely agree. They taste like the canned baked beans from Van Camp’s, Campbell or Heinz pork and beans. But healthy and made at home 😉
Have a great day,
Matteo