These homemade Boston Baked Beans are a delicious side dish recipe that pairs nicely with almost any meal. Navy beans, bacon, onions, molasses, and more, these baked beans are scrumptious and are fairly easy to make.
Baked beans are one of the all-time classic sides for any party or event, and Boston baked beans are the undisputed king of all of them. I’ve been making my version of these delicious baked beans for quite some time. Down here in Texas, they’re almost required because almost every part or gathering has tons of barbecue. And we all know that barbecue and baked beans are the classic combo. I love making this one because if I make it for a side for dinner, it will last for at least a couple of days, and at potlucks, it’s a great addition because it feeds an army.
Boston Baked Beans
These delicious beans are made fully from scratch. I take navy beans and cook them until they’re tender. Then, I add a homemade barbecue sauce, bacon, and onions. After that, it’s all cooked until I end up with a baking dish full of delicious barbecue and bacon goodness that’s perfect with barbecue of all kinds, anything fried, and all our favorite party sides.
Why You’ll Love This Boston Baked Bean Recipe
- They only take a few ingredients and are a delicious side dish that pairs well with all your favorite barbecue recipes and party staples.
- They’re super flavorful and delicious.
- This is the perfect recipe to try if you’ve never made homemade beans before.
Boston Baked Beans Tips and Variations
Tips
- NEVER skip the soaking process before cooking your beans. Otherwise, it takes them forever to cook.
Variations
- Try using ground beef in place of bacon for a beefy bean recipe.
- To make this recipe even easier and change up the flavor to your liking, try using your favorite variety of premade barbecue sauce.
- For an interesting twist that brings back memories of childhood, try adding sliced hot dogs or kielbasa.
What to Serve with Boston Baked Beans
The great thing about these beans is that they pair well with almost anything. They’re a great addition to almost all of our favorite foods at any gathering or event.
- Barbecue beef, pork, or chicken
- Fried chicken
- Hot dogs
- Hamburgers
- Pork chops
- Casseroles
- Coleslaw
- Mac and cheese
- Bread
Boston Baked Beans FAQ
What are Boston baked beans?
They’re a kind of baked bean dish that uses molasses as a sweetening agent.
What’s the difference between Boston baked beans and regular baked beans?
Boston baked beans are sweetened with molasses, while regular baked beans are sweetened with brown sugar. The Boston variety also has salt pork or bacon.
Where did baked beans originate?
While not exactly the same as modern baked beans, the first baked beans were made by Native American tribes, namely the Iroquois, Narragansett, Penobscot, and other eastern tribes.
What kind of beans are in baked beans?
Baked beans are made with navy beans.
Can you freeze baked beans?
Absolutely. They freeze very well. Just place them in an air-tight, freezer-safe container and freeze them for up to 6 months.
Why do they call them Boston baked beans?
Because they come from Boston. In the 18th century, Boston was an exporter of rum, which is made by distilling fermented molasses. During that time, people began sweetening their baked beans with that same molasses, creating Boston baked beans.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Homemade Baked Beans
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
To reheat the beans, place them in a baking dish, cover them, and baked them at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes or until heated through.
Boston Baked Beans Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. You’ll find them all easily at your local grocery store.
- Navy beans
- Bacon
- Medium onion
- Brown sugar
- Molasses
- Ketchup
- Dijon mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- Garlic powder
How to Make Boston Baked Beans
Making these beans is incredibly simple. It’s mostly a matter of soaking and then combining the ingredients. Even beginners can make it easily.
Step 1: Soak the Beans
Rinse and sort the dried beans, removing any discolored or broken beans and any pebbles. Place them in a large bowl or bean pot, cover with cold water, and soak overnight.
Step 2: Boil the Beans
Pour the beans and the soaking liquid into a pan and bring the water to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 to 2 hours until tender. Drain the beans and reserve the liquid.
Step 3: Add the Beans to a Dish
Spray a 3-quart baking dish with nonstick spray. Add half the beans in an even layer, top them with half the bacon and half the onions. Then, add another layer of the beans, bacon, and onions.
Step 4: Make the Barbecue Sauce
In a medium saucepan or dutch oven, mix the brown sugar, molasses, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Then, bring it to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
Step 5: Bake
Pour the sauce over the beans along with enough reserved liquid to cover the beans. Cover will foil and bake for 1 ½ hours at 325 degrees. Then, uncovered and continue to bake for another 1 ½ to 2 hours, checking every half-hour and adding additional reserved liquid as needed.
Try These Delicious Boston Baked Beans
These Boston baked beans have all the classic flavors we love, and they’re incredibly easy to make. In fact, the hardest part is waiting for them to finish baking! Give this recipe a try, and I know you’ll find yourself making it again and again.
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Cheesy Funeral Potatoes – A delicious casserole that uses simple ingredients and is a favorite cheese side dish recipe the whole family is going to love.
Cajun Buttered Corn on the Cob – A delicious corn on the cob recipe with a Cajun butter sauce, and seasoned perfectly, that makes a great side dish to almost any meal.
Potato Salad – A classic side dish that is usually always a favorite side for steak, chicken, pork, and is a potluck staple.
And, here is a Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad, from Great Grub, Delicious Treats, that you will enjoy too.
Boston Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried navy beans
- 12 ounce package bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 medium white onion, diced
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses
- ⅛ cup Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and sort dried beans. Remove any discolored or broken beans and any pebbles.
- Place beans in a large bowl, cover with cold water. Let sit overnight.
- Pour beans and soaking liquid into a pan and bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 hours until tender.
- Drain beans and reserve liquid.
- Spray a 3 quart baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray. Add half of the beans, then add half the bacon and half of the onions on top.
- Add another layer of remaining beans, bacon and onions.
- In a medium saucepan, add brown sugar, molasses, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and garlic powder. Stir and bring to a boil, over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Pour molasses mixture over the beans along with enough reserved liquid to just cover the beans.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 1 ½ hours, remove foil and continue to bake for 1 ½ – 2 hours longer, checking every half hour and adding additional reserved liquid, if needed, so beans do not dry out.
Notes
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