Description

The Best Baked Beans recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet, smoky, and tangy flavors combined with tender beans in a rich, savory sauce. Ideal for BBQs, weeknight dinners, or cozy meals, this classic comfort food boasts creamy texture and bold flavor, easily customized to suit dietary preferences and taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Beans

1 lb dried Navy Beans or Great Northern Beans
Water for soaking and cooking

Sauce

4 slices bacon, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon smoked paprika for vegetarian)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (omit if using bacon)
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Beans: Rinse the dried beans thoroughly and soak them overnight in cold water to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility. Alternatively, quick-soak by boiling for a few minutes, then covering and letting rest for an hour.
Cook the Beans: Drain the soaked beans and place them in a pot with fresh water. Simmer gently for about 1 hour or until the beans are tender but not mushy. Drain, reserving some cooking liquid for later use.
Prepare the Sauce: In a skillet, cook finely chopped bacon until crisp. For vegetarian option, skip bacon and use smoked paprika. Sauté onions and garlic in the rendered bacon fat or a little oil until golden and fragrant. Stir in tomato sauce, brown sugar, molasses, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper; whisk to combine.
Combine and Bake: Mix the cooked beans with the prepared sauce, adding reserved bean cooking liquid as needed to achieve desired consistency. Transfer to a baking dish and bake uncovered at 325°F (165°C) for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring halfway through, until sauce thickens and flavors meld.
Rest and Serve: Let the baked beans cool slightly after baking to allow flavors to settle. Serve warm, optionally garnished with fresh parsley or green onions, accompanied by your favorite sides.

Notes

Use dried beans for superior texture and flavor compared to canned.
Bake at a low temperature to deepen flavors without drying out the beans.
Reserve some cooking liquid from the beans; it’s natural starch helps adjust the sauce consistency.
Soaking beans removes some indigestible sugars, aiding digestion and even cooking.
Add sugar and molasses gradually, tasting as you go to customize sweetness.

Prep Time: 12 hours (including soaking time)
Cook Time: 2 hours (1 hour simmering beans + 1 to 1.5 hours baking)
Category: Appetizers
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Calories: 180
Sugar: 10g
Sodium: 350mg
Fat: 4g
Saturated Fat: 1.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 6g
Protein: 8g
Cholesterol: 10mg

Keywords: baked beans, navy beans, great northern beans, comfort food, BBQ side, vegetarian baked beans, smoky baked beans