Description
A classic recipe for old fashioned baked beans made from scratch with dried navy beans, beef bacon, and a sweet and savory sauce, baked slowly in the oven.
Ingredients
1 pound dried navy beans
8 ounces thick cut beef bacon, diced
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup plain tomato sauce or ketchup
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Step 1: Place the dried beans in a pot, cover with several inches of water, and soak overnight.
- Step 2: Drain the beans, return them to the pot with fresh water, bring to a boil, and simmer for one hour. Drain the beans again, reserving the cooking liquid.
- Step 3: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a Dutch oven, fry the beef bacon until crispy. Add the onions and cook for 5-7 minutes until soft, then add the garlic and cook for one more minute.
- Step 4: Stir in the tomato sauce, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and bay leaf.
- Step 5: Add 1 1/2 cups of the reserved bean water and the cooked beans. Bring the entire mixture to a simmer.
- Step 6: Cover the Dutch oven and bake for 2 to 3 hours, or until the beans are tender. Remove the lid for the last 20-30 minutes of cooking to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Step 7: Adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or let cool and refrigerate.
Notes
If the beans become too dry during baking, add more of the reserved bean water. If the sauce is too thin, bake longer with the lid off.
Slow Cooker Method: After simmering the beans, cook the beef bacon and sauce ingredients in a skillet.
Transfer everything to a slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. Uncover for the last 30 minutes to thicken the sauce.
The beans can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 120 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American