Baked Beans 🥫🍲
Baked beans are a hearty dish made from beans slow-cooked in a savory-sweet sauce, often flavored with tomato, molasses, brown sugar, or bacon. They are popular as a side dish for breakfasts, barbecues, or sandwiches.
Ingredients (Homemade Version)
- 2 cups dried beans (navy, white, or kidney) or 2 cans of cooked beans
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp molasses or brown sugar
- 2 tsp mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: bacon, smoked paprika, or Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor
Instructions
If Using Dried Beans
- Soak Beans overnight in water.
- Boil beans for 10–15 minutes until tender, then drain.
Cooking Baked Beans
- Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F).
- In a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven, sauté onions and garlic until softened.
- Add beans, tomato sauce, molasses, mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Optional: Stir in bacon or smoked paprika for smoky flavor.
- Cover and bake for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
Quick Stovetop Version (Canned Beans)
- Combine canned beans, tomato sauce, molasses, mustard, and seasonings in a pot.
- Simmer on low heat for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and flavorful.
Tips
- Sweet vs savory: Adjust sugar/molasses and mustard to taste.
- Consistency: Mash some beans for a thicker sauce.
- Make ahead: Baked beans taste even better the next day after flavors meld.
âś… Perfect as a breakfast side with eggs, on toast, or alongside barbecue dishes.
If you want, I can also give a 5-minute “easy baked beans” recipe using just canned beans and a few pantry staples.
