These homemade baked beans are sweet, smoky, and deeply flavorful thanks to molasses, bacon, and a long, slow bake. Inspired by a beloved family recipe, they’re perfect for barbecues, potlucks, or cozy dinners at home.
Keyword: Baked Beans, baked beans from canned beans, baked beans recipe, baked beans with ground beef, baked green beans, best baked beans, cowboy baked beans, crockpot baked beans, homemade baked beans
Prep Time: 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 2 hourshours
Total Time: 2 hourshours20 minutesminutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 320kcal
Cost: $9
Equipment
1 Dutch Oven (Or any oven-safe heavy pot)
1 Wooden spoon (For stirring)
1 Sharp knife (For chopping onion and garlic)
1 Measuring cups/spoons (For accuracy)
1 Large bowl (For soaking beans)
Ingredients
1lbDried navy beans- Or 3 cans, drained and rinsed
6ozThick-cut bacon- Cut into pieces
1largeYellow onion- Diced
3Garlic cloves- Minced
2tablespoonTomato paste
⅓cupMolasses- Unsulphured
¼cupBrown sugar- Light or dark
1tablespoonDijon mustard
1tablespoonWorcestershire sauce
2tablespoonApple cider vinegar
1teaspoonSmoked paprika
2Bay leaves- Whole
Salt and pepper- To taste
Reserved bacon water- Optional, for added smoky flavor
Instructions
Soak dried navy beans overnight, then drain and simmer until tender.
Cook bacon until crisp, then sauté onions and garlic in the bacon fat.
Stir in tomato paste, molasses, sugar, mustard, vinegar, and spices.
Combine beans, sauce, and bacon. Add liquid and bake slowly.
Uncover for caramelization, then cool and serve.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes.Feel free to add more of your favorite toppings.