Here’s a classic Baked Beans recipe—sweet, smoky, and perfect as a side for BBQs, breakfasts, or comfort meals.
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 4 cups cooked navy beans or 2 cans (15 oz each) drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup bacon, diced (optional for smoky flavor)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup molasses or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon or yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup water or broth (to thin if needed)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook the bacon and aromatics
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until slightly crisp.
- Add onions and garlic, cook until softened, about 3–4 minutes.
3. Combine ingredients
- In a large oven-safe dish or Dutch oven, combine beans, cooked bacon and onions, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Add water or broth if needed to reach desired consistency.
4. Bake
- Cover and bake for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and flavors meld.
- Remove cover for the last 10–15 minutes to thicken further if desired.
5. Serve
- Serve warm as a side dish with grilled meats, cornbread, or breakfast items.
💡 Tips
- For a vegetarian version, skip bacon and use smoked paprika or liquid smoke for flavor.
- Adjust sweetness with brown sugar or molasses to taste.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day, as the flavors deepen.
If you want, I can also give a slow-cooker baked beans recipe that’s hands-off and develops a deep, smoky-sweet flavor over several hours.
Do you want me to provide that version?
