Description
This recipe delivers deep, complex flavor and perfectly tender beans using a slow oven bake method, resulting in the ultimate homemade baked beans.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds dried navy beans, soaked overnight and rinsed
- 6 cups water
- 4 ounces salt pork or smoked bacon, diced
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup dark molasses
- 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the soaked and rinsed beans in a large pot and cover with 6 cups of fresh water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes until the beans are slightly tender but not fully cooked. Drain the beans, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
- In a separate large skillet, cook the diced salt pork or bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove the meat with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the skillet.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook in the rendered fat until soft, about 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the molasses, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and cloves. Stir in the cooked onions.
- Combine the partially cooked beans, the reserved cooking liquid, the onion mixture, and the reserved cooked salt pork/bacon in a heavy, oven-safe pot or Dutch oven. Stir gently to combine everything.
- Cover the pot tightly and bake for 3 to 4 hours, stirring gently once halfway through the baking time. The beans should be very tender and the sauce thick. If the sauce seems too thick before the beans are done, add a small amount of water or reserved liquid.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Soaking the beans overnight is crucial for even cooking and texture.
- Using dark molasses provides the deepest color and flavor profile required for this recipe.
- Do not skip the initial 45-minute simmer; this helps tenderize the beans before the long bake.
- Prep Time: 12 hours (includes soaking)
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 15
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 15