Baked Beans
If you've got dried navy beans, bacon and molasses, you're most of the way to this pork: about 70 minutes of cooking across 7 steps. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and large pot. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: contains meat, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Mustard
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Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Rinse the navy beans, place them in a large bowl, cover with several inches of cold water, and soak overnight; the next day drain and rinse them well.
- Put the soaked beans in a large pot, cover with fresh water by two inches, bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for about 45 to 60 minutes until the beans are just tender but not falling apart, then drain, reserving 2 cups of the cooking liquid.
- Heat the oven to 160 C (325 F). Dice the bacon and the onion, then cook the bacon in an ovenproof pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until much of the fat renders, add the onion, and soften for about 6 minutes.
- Stir in the brown sugar, molasses, tomato paste, mustard, cider vinegar, and bay leaf along with a teaspoon of salt and a good grind of pepper, then add the drained beans and enough reserved cooking liquid to almost cover them.
- Bring to a simmer on the stove, cover, and transfer to the oven to bake for 2 to 2 and a half hours, stirring once or twice and adding a splash more liquid if it looks dry.
- Uncover for the final 30 minutes so the top caramelizes and the sauce thickens to a glossy, syrupy coat.
- Discard the bay leaf, taste and adjust salt, pepper, and a touch more vinegar if needed, then rest 10 minutes before serving warm.
You'll use: Oven Β· Large pot Β· Saucepan
Ingredient substitutions
- Brown Sugar
- white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses per cup
Tips & common questions
How long does Baked Beans take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish β an estimate based on the 7 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of brown sugar?
Try white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses per cup. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes β use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe β rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Baked Beans is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Homemade baked beans 2.jpg by Exilexi, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure β how we source recipes.