These Old Fashioned Baked Beans are made from scratch with a sweet and savory sauce. This heirloom homemade baked beans recipe has been in my family for generations and guarantees the BEST Baked Beans you will ever have!
![Old Fashioned Baked Beans Homemade baked beans in large white casserole dish.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Homemade-Baked-Beans.jpg)
The Best Baked Beans EVER!
My Papa was known for a lot of recipes (Pot Roast, Chicken Pot Pie, Old-Fashioned Potato Salad, and Ham and Bean Soup to name a few), but he was FAMOUS for his Baked Beans. And once you have his homemade baked beans, you will NEVER settle for any recipe! They are saucy, sweet, savory, tangy, and smokey--everything good baked beans should be!
Just as my family makes these old fashioned baked beans for every potluck and summer picnic, millions of readers have made this baked bean recipe and come back to it time and time again.
With my foolproof instructions and my Papa's perfect ratio of seasonings, you will be serving these baked beans for years to come! Whether served alongside Crockpot BBQ Chicken Legs, Homemade Burgers, Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts, or Instant Pot Brats, these baked beans make a classic side dish for endless meals. You are going to love them!
Ingredients for Homemade Baked Beans
![Baked Beans Recipe from scratch Ingredients for homemade baked beans labeled on counter.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Recipe-for-From-Scratch-Baked-Beans.jpg)
- Navy Beans: You can start this recipe for baked beans with dried beans, which is a real money-saver! Or take a short-cut and start with canned navy beans, I have included directions for using either.
- Bacon (optional): Adding thick-cut pork bacon to the baked beans adds a rich, smokey flavor. However, omitting the bacon for Vegetarian Baked Beans will still be delicious--I do this many times myself.
- To Sweeten: No one ever said old fashioned baked beans were low in sugar! Using a combination of 100% apple juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, and molasses gives the baked beans so much flavor. The maple syrup adds rich, buttery notes, molasses thickens and colors the beans while giving them a smokey undertone, and brown sugar adds a toffee like flavor to the beans.
- For Flavor: Plain tomato sauce, dried mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and onion all work to add savory, acidic notes which help to balance out the sweetness of the baked beans and give them their sweet and tangy sauce that just baked beans are famous for!
How to Make Baked Beans from Scratch
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Soak and Cook Dried Navy Beans
If you are starting this recipe with dried Navy beans, you will need to soak your navy beans for 8-12 hours in water. Once soaked, drain off the beans and cook on the stovetop in simmering water until tender or use my recipe for Instant Pot Dried Beans to prepare the navy beans in the Instant Pot.
![How to Make Baked Beans Dried navy beans in large bowl covered with water to soak overnight.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Baked-Beans-with-Dried-Beans.jpg)
Time-Saving Tip
Full disclosure, my Papa used canned beans to make homemade baked beans, and you can too! Replace the dried beans with 4 cups of rinsed and drained canned navy beans.
Pan-Fry Bacon and Onions (optional)
Adding bacon to the baked beans add an incredible savory undertone to the baked beans, but you will need to sauté the bacon prior to mixing into the baked beans, to yield the most flavor and best texture. If adding bacon, I also recommend sautéing the onion along with bacon, as it will soak up the flavor of the bacon, in turn flavoring the baked beans that much more.
![Baked Beans with Bacon Cubed bacon and minced onion together in large sauté pan after bacon has been rendered and cooked.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Baked-Beans-with-Bacon.jpg)
For Vegetarian Baked Beans
Simply omit the bacon and add the raw onion to the baked bean sauce. You can skip sautéing the onions and I promise you will have delicious vegetarian baked beans.
Prepare Sauce for Baked Beans
The sweet, tangy, savory sauce is what makes these baked beans the absolute best! It is as easy as combining tomato sauce, brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, salt, mustard with the apple juice and water, then gently folding in the beans, bacon, and onion.
![Baked Beans Recipe Cooked beans in baked bean sauce with molasses, brown sugar, and bacon.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Grandmas-Baked-Beans.jpg)
Cook Baked Beans Low and Slow
It is best to cook your baked beans for a long period of time, which allows the beans to fully soften and absorb flavors of the sauce. This also allows time for the sauce to thicken and become rich and golden. I recommend baking these homemade baked beans covered in a 300 degree F oven for 2-3 hours and then uncover and continue to bake for 30-40 minutes.
![The Best Baked Beans from Scratch Baked Beans in large white casserole dish.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Baked-Beans-From-Scratch.jpg)
The Secret to the Best Baked Beans
Baked Beans from scratch are already a trillion times tastier than anything canned, but if you want to take your homemade baked beans over the top, serve them with potato chips!
YES, potato chips!
My Papa taught me that trick and it is PERFECTION! Instead of using silverware to enjoy homemade baked beans, we scoop them up with plain potato chips. The sweetness of the baked beans makes a perfect contrast to salty potato chips.
![Home Made Baked Beans Plain potato chip dipping into rich homemade baked beans.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Home-Made-Baked-Beans.jpg)
Recipe Modifications
- Dress Up Pork and Beans or Canned Baked Beans: Instead of starting your baked beans with dried or canned navy beans, you can opt to use 32 ounces of prepared baked beans or pork and beans. Simply mix the canned baked beans with ¼ cup brown sugar and ¼ cup molasses, ¼ cup minced onion, and 2 teaspoons dried mustard powder. Bake as directed.
- Crockpot Baked Beans: If you would like to keep the heat out of your kitchen or don't have enough room in your oven, you can make these baked beans in the slow cooker. Prepare the baked bean recipe up to baking, omitting the added water. Pour the bean mixture into the liner of your slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- No Dried Mustard? Use 1 tablespoon of prepared yellow mustard.
- No Apple Cider Vinegar? Use white distilled vinegar.
- Like Your Baked Beans Sweeter? Add up to an an additional ¼ cup of brown sugar or use ketchup in place of the tomato sauce.
More Picnic Worthy Recipes
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Homemade Coleslaw
- Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
- Texas Sheet Cake
- Sour Cream Cucumber Salad
- Instant Pot Potato Salad
- Antipasto Pasta Salad
- Mini Cheesecakes
![Saucy brown sugar baked beans in large white casserole dish.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Perfect-Baked-Beans-360x360.jpg)
Baked Beans from Scratch
Ingredients
- 1-⅓ cups dried navy beans soaked overnnight
- 3 slices thick bacon chopped
- ¼ cup yellow onion chopped
- ½ cup tomato sauce or ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup brown sugar use up to ½ cup if you like REALLY sweet beans
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup apple juice or water
- ½ cup water
Instructions
Prepare Navy Beans
- Place dried beans in a container that can be fitted with a lid. Pour fresh water over the beans until the water is at least 1 inch above the beans. Seal the container shut. Soak beans for 8-12 hours.
- After soaking, drain the beans. Add the soaked beans to a large stock pan. Cover beans by 1 inch with fresh cold water.
- Bring water to a rapid boil, and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 1 hour. Drain cooked beans well.
- Alternatively, you can speed up the process by cooking the soaked beans in the Instant Pot after they have been soaked (Navy beans' texture is best if soaked before cooking.)
For the Baked Beans
- Preheat oven to 300℉.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the sliced bacon. Cook until bacon begins to render fat and then stir in the chopped onion. Sauté bacon and onions together until onions begin to soften and the bacon is browned and slightly crisp. This should take about 5-6 minutes. After browned, drain off the excess grease that the bacon has rendered.
- In a large bowl, mix together tomato sauce, brown sugar, molasses, maple syrup, dried mustard, vinegar, apple juice, water, and salt until well combined. Add in bacon and onion mixture and cooked beans and gently stir to combine.
- Pour the bean mixture into a 2-quart oven-safe dish. Beans should be pretty well submerged in liquid and the mixture should be relatively loose. If there does not seem to be enough liquid in the baking dish, add up to ½ cup of additional water or juice. Cover the pan with foil or an oven-safe lid.
- Bake covered for 2 hours. After 2 hours, remove the lid or foil, and bake for another 30-40 minutes, or until thickened.
Elaine
This was my first time making baked beans and they turned out great! I used the slow cooker. It was definitely a hit for our family New Year’s Day dinner!
Gordon Beer
Best baked beans ever!
I use home smoked bacon for a little extra flavor and they turn out great every time. They're everyone favorite.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that!
Gabrielle
Really easy and delicious! I used the pressure cooker method to pre-cook the beans and it worked out really well! Couldn’t stop eating them. Chefs kiss!
Kristen Chidsey
Wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!
tammy sisson
This is the second batch I made so far and they are a hit. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
You are very welcome!
Donna Kenkel
My first recipe I’m going to surprise my sister with your baked beans. I’ll let you know how it goes 😃
laureen
Hi Kristen,
Today I made your beans for the first time. Delicious. My son -in-law loves his food on the spicer, hotter side. What do you recommend I do for his batch.
Thanks for the terrific taste.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Laureen! I am thrilled to hear you enjoy! For your son-in-law, if you want to doctor up just his serving, I would stir in a bit of Dijon mustard and hot sauce.
Adri
Hi, Kristen! It seems very flavourful!
Try this one:beans, onions, tomatoes, garlic, thyme,laurel leaves, salt, pepper. No meat. It is one revipe I make in fall-winter, sweet and tasty. Try also with some green-ish tomato pickles aside. All the best, Adri
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing. That sounds delish!
Richard Fellerman
Hi Kristen,
Made these today and they are to die for.
Scrumptious and amazing!
Followed the recipe exactly except I substituted dried Soldier Beans, since I have about a dozen varieties of heirloom dried beans on hand. Oh I guess I also substituted Honey Crisp Apple Cider in place of the apple juice. This recipe is getting a permanent home in my recipe box. Thank You Very Much! I really appreciate it!
I will share with all of my friends, relatives, and neighbors up here in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Richard F.
September 29, 2023
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so very much for sharing, Richard! I am so happy to hear this recipe is now has a permanent home in your recipe box.
Astrid
Can you can baked beans after it is finished cooking. If yes do you pressure can it or watherbath can it. Love from the Netherlands
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Astrid! I am not a canning expert, but I do know that Baked Beans are a low-acid food and must be pressure canned. They can not be canned in a hot water bath or steam canned.
Laura Osborne
I made these to control the salt mu husband needs to watch. I followed the recipe exactly as written. He and I both agree, WAY to sweet, almost to the point of feeling like I need to make another recipe, but leaving out the molasses in the brown sugar or maybe all of the sweetness. I would increase the mustard as well.
I would’ve rated this five star except for the sweetness. To us, these are a notable as they sit. I would welcome any other suggestions to how to tone down the ones I’ve got, without having to make another batch.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Laura! I am sorry you found these too sweet, they certainly are on the sweeter side. I would cut both the molasses and brown sugar in half and adjust from there.
Carrie
How much is a single serving in cups?
Carrie
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Carrie. Each serving is about 1/2 cup.
Milinda
Do you salt the beans when soaking and/ or cooking?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Milinda! It is best to wait until after soaking and cooking dried beans to add salt, as the salt can interfere with the beans softening.
Vanessa G.
When I read the bit about eating potato chips with baked beans, I knew you deeply understood baked beans. Yum.
Kristen Chidsey
Ha! It is the BEST!
Christina
Came across your recipe, I made it with some dried pinto beans I had. Very tasty. I added a pinch of smoked paprika for smokiness. It’s very versatile and lends itself to making little changes here or there if you choose. But you don’t have to, the recipe stands up on its own. I loved it.
Kristen Chidsey
THank you for sharing, Christina!
SAH
I followed the directions precisely. My beans were liquid and hard after adding an additional hour. Not sure why it flopped.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi there! Did you soak your beans overnight, as the recipe directs?
SAH
Yes, I soaked them overnight and boiled them. As I said, I followed the directions precisely.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing that. I asked to be sure 🙂 I would suggest boiling a bit longer than in the future to get them as as soft as you desire.
SAH
I will try that next time. Thank you.
Karen H
Another factor in how long it takes dried beans to cook is the age of the beans. The older the beans, the longer they take to soften. Some cooking experts will say never use dried beans beyond XX years. I've never had a problem with older beans as long as I allow the extra time necessary for them to cook longer until they become soft. I learned this tip from my g'ma who *NEVER* let food go to waste.
Laine
Just made these and threw them in the smoker while my husband was making brisket. These are amazing! I made a double batch so we will be canning left overs for future BBQ nights.
Kristen Chidsey
I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed so much! Thanks for sharing, Laine!