Smoky, Sweet Homemade Beans: A Delicious Comfort Food
Tender navy beans are slow-cooked in a rich, smoky, and sweet sauce, creating a comforting and flavorful dish perfect as a side or main course.
Equipment
- large pot
- Dutch oven or oven-safe pot
- slotted spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried navy beans
- 8 oz thick-cut bacon diced
- 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup tomato sauce or ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
Reserved Cooking Liquid
- 1½ cups bean cooking liquid reserved
Instructions
- Soak dried navy beans in water for 8–12 hours. Drain, refill with fresh water, and boil for 1 hour. Drain beans again and reserve 1½ cups of the cooking liquid.
- In a Dutch oven, cook diced bacon over medium heat until crisp. Add chopped onion and sauté for 5–7 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Stir in tomato sauce (or ketchup), molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and the bay leaf.
- Add the cooked beans and the reserved bean liquid to the pot. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes to meld flavors.
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Cover the Dutch oven and bake for 2 to 3 hours. Uncover during the last 20–30 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken, stirring occasionally and adding more liquid if needed.
- Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving hot or refrigerating.
Slow Cooker Method
- Combine soaked and boiled beans, cooked bacon and aromatics, and all sauce ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours. Uncover during the final 30 minutes to thicken the sauce.
Notes
Soaking beans overnight is crucial for a tender texture and reduced cooking time. Do not discard the reserved bean liquid as it is essential for the sauce's consistency. For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon and consider adding extra smoked paprika or a touch of liquid smoke.