Easy Baked Beans: A Delicious Comfort Food
Whip up a batch of these incredibly easy baked beans, a classic comfort food that's perfect as a side dish or a hearty snack. This recipe simplifies the process for a delicious, home-style result.
Equipment
- large pot
- Oven-safe dish or Dutch oven
- Slow cooker (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried navy beans (haricot, cannellini, or pinto)
- 6 cups water for soaking and cooking
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices bacon chopped (optional)
For Serving
- reserved bean cooking liquid as needed
Instructions
- Soak the dried beans overnight or use the quick soak method: boil with water for 2 minutes, then cover and let sit for 1 hour.
- Drain and rinse the soaked beans. Place in a pot with fresh water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 1 hour until tender. Drain, reserving some cooking liquid.
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). If using bacon, cook it in an oven-safe pot until crisp. Sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until softened.
- Combine the cooked beans, bacon mixture (if using), ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in the pot. Mix thoroughly.
- Add enough reserved bean cooking liquid or fresh water to just cover the beans.
- Cover the pot and bake for 2 hours. Remove the lid and bake for an additional 30 minutes to thicken the sauce.
- Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Slow Cooker Variation
- Combine all ingredients (except bacon, if omitting) in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until beans are tender and sauce has thickened.
Flavor Boost
- For a deeper flavor, stir in 1 teaspoon of instant coffee with the other ingredients.
Notes
Soaking beans overnight is ideal, but a quick soak method is available. Navy beans are standard, but other varieties like cannellini or pinto can be used. For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon or use a smoky vegan alternative. The sauce will thicken as it bakes, and beans may split slightly, which is normal.