Here’s a classic Baked Beans recipe—sweet, smoky, and perfect as a side for barbecues, breakfast, or casual dinners:
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
- 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) navy beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup (120 ml) ketchup
- ¼ cup (60 ml) molasses
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Dijon or yellow mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional, for smoky flavor)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Sauté aromatics:
- In a skillet, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat.
- Cook onions and garlic 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Mix beans and sauce:
- In a baking dish, combine beans, sautéed onion and garlic, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Stir well to coat the beans evenly.
- Bake:
- Cover with foil and bake 25–30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Serve:
- Serve hot as a side with grilled meats, breakfast, or casseroles.
Tips
- For extra smokiness, add cooked bacon or smoked sausage.
- You can use maple syrup instead of molasses for a sweeter flavor.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day after the flavors meld.
- For a slow-cooker version, cook on low for 4–6 hours instead of baking.
If you want, I can also give a sweet-and-spicy baked beans version that’s closer to classic barbecue style—rich, slightly tangy, with a bit of heat. Do you want that version?
