Experience the warmth of home cooking with Mom’s Oven Baked Beans. They’re a delightful mix of sweetness, tanginess, and rich bacon—the perfect BBQ side dish!.
I don’t know about you, but there are definitely certain side dishes that I love eating during summertime. For me, it’s fresh fruit, macaroni salad, potato salad, and these baked beans!.
My mom’s beans are something we grew up eating a lot. I always looked forward to a big serving of them. They’re hearty and filled with that sweet, savory, and smoky flavor of classic baked beans. They are also very simple to make, and the rest is done in the oven! For a full summer meal, serve them with my BBQ Ribs and Corn on the Cob!
Baked beans are a beloved side dish, especially at summer barbecues and potlucks. But homemade baked beans made from scratch are so much better than just opening a can! When cooked properly, baked beans are thick and saucy with a sweet, smoky, and savory flavor.
So how exactly are baked beans cooked to get that perfect texture and taste? Here is a step-by-step guide to making delicious homemade baked beans,
Ingredients Needed
The basic ingredients for baked beans include:
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Dried beans – Navy, Great Northern, or cannellini beans are traditional. 1 pound of dried beans makes 6 servings.
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Bacon or salt pork – This adds a smoky, salty flavor. Use about 8 ounces.
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Onions and garlic – An onion chopped and 2 cloves of garlic provide aromatic flavor.
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Tomato sauce or ketchup – A tomato-based sauce thickens up the bean liquid. Use 1/2 cup.
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Sweetener – Molasses, brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey add sweetness. Use 1/4 cup molasses or 1/2 cup brown sugar.
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Seasonings – You’ll need 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, dry mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
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Smoked meat (optional) – For extra smoky flavor, add a ham hock or smoked turkey wings.
Step 1: Soak the Beans
It’s important to soak dried beans before cooking to rehydrate them and allow them to cook evenly. Place the beans in a large pot and cover with a few inches of water. Let soak 8-12 hours or overnight.
Soaking allows the beans to absorb water and begin to soften so they cook more quickly and uniformly. Older, drier beans may take longer to soften.
Step 2: Parboil the Beans
After soaking, drain the beans and place in a pot. Cover with fresh water by a few inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes.
This parboiling further softens the beans and starts to develop their flavor. Make sure they remain covered by water while simmering. Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid.
Step 3: Cook Aromatics
In a Dutch oven, cook the bacon or salt pork over medium heat until lightly browned. Add the chopped onions and cook for 5 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Cooking the onions and garlic in the bacon fat builds a flavorful base for the beans.
Step 4: Add Liquid and Beans
Next, stir in the tomato sauce, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and any other seasonings. Add 1-2 cups of the reserved bean liquid.
Then add the parboiled beans and any smoked meat if using. Adding some of the bean liquid provides thickness and flavor.
Step 5: Simmer the Beans
Bring the pot to a gentle simmer and let cook for 2-3 minutes for the flavors to meld.
At this point you can either bake the beans in the oven or continue simmering on the stovetop.
Step 6: Bake the Beans (Optional)
For deeper, more concentrated flavor, transfer the pot to a 325°F oven. Bake for 2-3 hours until the beans are very tender and the sauce thickened.
Baking the beans allows the sauce to reduce down, infusing the beans with rich flavor. Remove the lid for the last 30 minutes.
Step 7: Adjust Seasoning and Serve
Once the beans are cooked through, taste and adjust salt, pepper, or other seasonings as needed.
Let cool slightly before serving. Baked beans pair perfectly with barbecued ribs, burgers, hot dogs, cornbread, coleslaw, and potato salad.
Tips for Perfect Baked Beans
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Add more bean liquid if needed during cooking to keep beans moist. Beans can vary in how much liquid they absorb.
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For creamier beans, mash some against the side of the pot after cooking.
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For maximum flavor, make 1-2 days ahead. The tastes blend even more over time.
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Cook on low heat to avoid scorching or burning. Check beans often and stir.
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If beans remain hard, add 1/4 tsp baking soda while simmering to help soften.
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Use a mix of beans like navy, kidney, pinto, and black beans for fun color and texture.
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Add extras like chopped bacon, browned sausage, diced ham, or crumbled ground beef.
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Stir in barbecue sauce, chili sauce, mustard, or other flavorings for your own signature baked beans.
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Garnish with chopped green onions, parsley, cheddar cheese, or crispy fried onions.
With the right technique, the simplest ingredients create delicious, old-fashioned baked beans from scratch. Now that you know how to make them properly, you can skip the canned versions! Impress your family and friends with homemade baked beans at your next gathering.
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How to Make Oven Baked Beans
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius).
Step 2: Set a large skillet over medium heat and cook the bacon until it’s crisp. Then remove it and set it on a paper towel-lined plate.
Third, put the chopped onion and bell pepper in a large Dutch oven or casserole dish. Then, add the pork, beans, chili sauce (or barbecue sauce), brown sugar, and pepper.
Step 4: Crumble the bacon slices over the top, then stir to combine.
Step 5: Place it in the oven and bake for 1 ½ to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer you cook the beans, the thicker they’ll get. Keep in mind that as they cool, they’ll thicken too.
Step 6: Remove it from the oven, stir, then let it cool for 15-20 minutes before serving.
- For thicker beans, cook these easy-baked beans for longer. This is because more water will evaporate, and the bean mixture will naturally get thicker.
- Extra-Thin Beans: To make the beans less thick, add more chicken broth, chili sauce, or water.
The steps for making baked beans in an Instant Pot or even a slow cooker are the same as those for making peas in an Instant Pot. The exception is to include BBQ sauce and bacon in your recipe as you cook them.
Yes, you can mix in different beans. You could use drained canned kidney or navy beans instead of a can of baked beans if you wanted to, but keep in mind that the dish will taste and feel different if you do this.
There is an endless amount of additions you can make to this recipe. To change the taste of this recipe, I’ve added garlic, sautéed onions, Worcestershire sauce, ground beef, and even ketchup. But you can add in anything you want!.
Let oven-baked beans cool to room temperature, then put them in a container that won’t let air in. They can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days. To FREEZE, store in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months.
Put the beans in a dish that can go in the oven and heat them up at a low temperature, around 300°F (150°C), stirring them every now and then until they are fully heated through. Alternatively, reheat in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish.
The Ultimate Baked Beans Recipe
FAQ
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