Description
Favorite Baked Beans deliver pure comfort straight from your kitchen, blending smoky bacon, sweet molasses, and hearty navy beans into a classic side dish that reminds you of family gatherings. Slow-baked until thick and rich, these beans bring warmth and traditional flavor to your next barbecue or potluck.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (28 oz) can navy beans
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 small onion
Sauce Components:
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Prepare your oven by setting the temperature to 350°F and coating a 9×13 inch baking dish with a light layer of cooking spray.
- Rinse the navy beans thoroughly under cool water, allowing them to drain completely before transferring to the greased baking dish.
- Finely chop the small onion into uniform, small pieces, then mince the 2 garlic cloves until they are nearly microscopic.
- Cut the 4 bacon slices into half-inch chunks, creating bite-sized pieces perfect for mixing and topping.
- Grab a mixing bowl and combine ½ cup ketchup, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup molasses, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper into a smooth sauce.
- Fold the chopped onion, minced garlic, and half of the bacon pieces directly into your prepared sauce.
- Pour the entire sauce mixture over the beans, carefully stirring to ensure each bean gets a perfect coating.
- Distribute the remaining bacon pieces across the top of the bean mixture for extra flavor and crunch.
- Cover the baking dish completely with aluminum foil to trap moisture and heat.
- Slide the covered dish into the 350°F oven and bake for 45 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.
- Remove the foil and return the dish to the oven for an additional 15-20 minutes, watching for a slightly crispy top layer.
- After removing from the oven, let the beans rest for 10 minutes to set and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Beans absorb flavor best when prepped the night before by soaking in the sauce mixture overnight in the refrigerator.
- Fresh thick-cut bacon delivers richer taste and better texture than standard thin-cut grocery store varieties.
- For a vegetarian version, replace bacon with smoked paprika and add liquid smoke for depth of flavor.
- Leftover beans taste even better the next day as flavors continue to develop and meld together during storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour - 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 295 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg