Description
Boston Baked Beans bring warmth from generations of New England kitchen wisdom right to your table. Molasses-glazed navy beans slowly simmer into a hearty side that connects you with classic American comfort cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound Dried Navy Beans
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup Molasses
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Mustard
- Salt
Instructions
- Thoroughly rinse your navy beans under cold water, removing any debris. Submerge beans in a large bowl, covering with 3 inches of water. Allow them to soak at room temperature for 12 hours.
- Drain and rinse the soaked beans. Transfer them to a heavy ceramic or cast-iron pot that has a tight-fitting lid.
- Whisk together ½ cup molasses, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons mustard, and 1 teaspoon salt in a separate mixing bowl. Pour this mixture over your beans.
- Add 4 cups of water to the bean mixture. Stir gently to ensure all beans are coated with the sweet and tangy sauce.
- Cover the pot with its lid. Slide the pot into a preheated 300°F oven. Set a timer for 6 hours, checking moisture levels every 2 hours.
- After 6 hours, pierce a few beans with a fork. They should be creamy and tender. If not, continue baking for another 1-2 hours.
- Remove the pot from the oven. Let the beans rest for 15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken naturally.
- Taste and sprinkle additional salt if needed. The beans should have a rich, deep flavor with a glossy, thick sauce.
- Serve warm directly from the pot, accompanied by your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- Soak beans thoroughly to ensure even cooking and reduce digestive discomfort.
- Use a heavy cast-iron pot or Dutch oven for the most even heat distribution and rich flavor development.
- Adjust liquid during baking to prevent beans from drying out, checking every couple of hours and adding warm water if needed.
- For a vegetarian version, replace bacon or salt pork with smoked paprika or liquid smoke to maintain a deep, rich flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours (baking)
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 8
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 1.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 12 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg