Description
What You’ll Need: Ingredients. Simple, hearty staples slow-cooked into deeply savory, slightly sweet baked beans with smoky bacon and molasses. Minimal hands-on time for a classic crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Baked Beans Base
- 1 lb dried navy beans, picked over and rinsed
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon, cut into thick slices
- 2 medium yellow onions, small diced (peeled)
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and small diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and small diced
- 1 cup tomato puree
- 3 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
- hot sauce (a dash)
- 3 cups beef stock (low sodium) (plus more as needed)
- salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Soak the beans (overnight): Place rinsed navy beans in a large bowl and cover with cool water by at least 4 inches. Soak 8–12 hours. Drain and rinse.
- Render bacon & caramelize onions: In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook bacon 6–8 minutes until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon (reserve). Reduce heat to low; add onions and cook 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized.
- Sauté aromatics: Add minced garlic and diced red & green bell peppers. Cook 6–8 minutes over low-medium heat until peppers soften and garlic is fragrant.
- Combine sauce & beans: Stir in soaked beans, tomato puree, mustard, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, molasses, brown sugar, a dash of hot sauce, and 3 cups beef stock. Mix in about 3/4 of the reserved bacon. Season with salt & pepper.
- Slow bake: Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and transfer to a 325°F (165°C) oven for 3–3 1/2 hours, until beans are tender and sauce is thick. Check around 90 minutes; add 1/2–1 cup stock if liquid is low.
- Garnish & serve: Top with remaining crispy bacon (and chopped parsley or chives if desired). Serve hot.
Notes
Timing guide: Beans vary by age; total cook can range 4–6.5 hours. If beans are nearly tender but sauce is thin, uncover to reduce during the last 20–30 minutes. For sweeter beans, add +1 Tbsp molasses; for smokier depth, add a few drops liquid smoke.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 12
- Protein: 14
