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Homemade Baked Beans

Name: Homemade Baked Beans
Prep time: 1 h 50 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 4 h 50 min
Yield: 16 servings.
Ingredients: 1 pound dried navy beans; 1-1/2 teaspoons salt; 4 quarts cold water, divided; 1 cup chopped red onion; 1/2 cup molasses; 6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled; 1/4 cup packed brown sugar; 1 teaspoon ground mustard; 1/4 teaspoon pepper

5 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 1 hour 50 min. + standing Bake: 3 hours

Makes

16 servings

Updated: Oct. 22, 2023

These hearty homemade baked beans are a super side dish for a casual meal. The ingredients blend perfectly for a wonderful from-scratch taste. The old-fashioned flavor will have people standing in line for more. —Jesse and Anne Foust, Bluefield, West Virginia

Homemade Baked Beans Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

1 pound dried navy beans
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
4 quarts cold water, divided
1 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup molasses
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring beans, salt and 2 qt. water to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; let stand for 1 hour. Drain beans and discard liquid.

Return beans to pan. Cover with remaining water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender. Drain, reserving liquid.
Return to pan; add back 1 cup liquid, onion, molasses, bacon, brown sugar, mustard and pepper. Pour into a greased 2-1/2 qt. baking dish.
Cover and bake at 325° for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until beans are as thick as desired thickness, stirring occasionally. Add more of the reserved cooking liquid if needed.

Homemade Baked Beans Tips

Can you use canned beans to make homemade baked beans?

For faster prep, canned beans can be used as a substitute in this homemade baked beans recipe. One pound of dry beans is equivalent to around 3 cans of beans. To make baked beans with canned beans, just skip the first two recipe steps. Combine the canned beans with the rest of the ingredients before baking.

How else can you make homemade baked beans?

There are so varieties of homemade baked beans you can cook. To give the beans a sweeter flavor, mix in crushed pineapple and mustard, like in our sweet and spicy baked beans recipe. Experiment with coffee and vinegar for a tangy baked beans dish. For a meaty version of baked beans, add ground beef to make a hearty bowl of western-style beef and beans.

What do you serve with homemade baked beans?

Homemade baked beans make a fantastic summer side dish at any backyard cookout or potluck. Serve your homemade baked beans alongside juicy hamburgers, loaded chili dogs, or grilled baby back ribs.

How long will homemade baked beans last?

Homemade baked beans should last up to 5 days in the fridge. You can also freeze the baked beans for up to 6 months in an airtight container. Make sure the beans are fully cooled before freezing.

—Sammi DiVito, Taste of Home Assistant Editor

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 154 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 269mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 7g fiber), 7g protein.