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Homemade Baked Beans from Scratch

You'll love the sweet, savory, and smoky flavor of these old fashioned baked beans with bacon!

Prep Time
14 hrs
Cook Time
2 hrs
Total Time
16 hrs
Servings: 16 servings (1/2 cup each)
Calories: 215 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. dried navy beans or great Northern beans, rinsed and sorted
  • ½ lb. bacon, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • ¾ cup molasses
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons dry mustard
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley, chives, or sliced green onions

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place beans in a large bowl or pot. Cover with water by 2 inches. Cover and let stand overnight. Drain and rinse the beans. Place the beans in a large pot and cover with fresh water (about 1 quart). Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so that the liquid is at a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and simmer the beans until tender, about 1 ½ hours. Drain and rinse.
  2. Preheat oven to 325°F. In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, about 7-8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate; reserve 2 tablespoons of drippings in the pot (discard any excess).
  3. Add the onion to the drippings in the pot and season with a pinch of salt. Cook over medium-high heat until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Stir in the beans, bacon, ketchup, molasses, vinegar, dry mustard, ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper.
  4. Add enough of the broth to cover the beans (if necessary, add water as well to cover the beans).
  5. Cover and bake until the beans are tender, about 2 hours, stirring the pot halfway through. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, chives or sliced green onions.

Notes

  • Don't add too much salt. The bacon and the broth provide a good amount of salt to this baked beans recipe, so start slowly, and gradually add more seasoning to taste.
  • Don't add too much salt. The bacon and the broth provide a good amount of salt to this baked beans recipe, so start slowly, and gradually add more seasoning to taste.
  • The total cooking time may vary, so keep an eye on your beans and pull them out of the oven when they're tender. I find that 2 hours is perfect, but you can pull them out sooner if you like your beans a bit firmer. For really soft, broken-down beans, you might like to leave them in the oven beyond the 2-hour mark.
  • The total cooking time may vary, so keep an eye on your beans and pull them out of the oven when they're tender. I find that 2 hours is perfect, but you can pull them out sooner if you like your beans a bit firmer. For really soft, broken-down beans, you might like to leave them in the oven beyond the 2-hour mark.
  • The beans and sauce will continue to thicken as they cool, so don't worry if it looks a little bit soupy when it first comes out of the oven.
  • The beans and sauce will continue to thicken as they cool, so don't worry if it looks a little bit soupy when it first comes out of the oven.
  • For added heat, season the beans with Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning, some hot sauce, or a dash of cayenne.
  • For added heat, season the beans with Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning, some hot sauce, or a dash of cayenne.
  • A splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce adds salty, umami flavor.
  • A splash of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce adds salty, umami flavor.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1/2 cup Calories 215kcal (11%) Carbohydrates 32g (11%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 9mg (3%) Sodium 277mg (12%) Potassium 656mg (19%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 15g (30%) Vitamin A 45IU (1%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 80mg (8%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16servings (1/2 cup each)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 215

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/2 cup
Calories 215kcal 11%
Carbohydrates 32g 11%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 9mg 3%
Sodium 277mg 12%
Potassium 656mg 14%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 15g 30%
Vitamin A 45IU 1%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 80mg 8%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.