Boston Baked Beans

Nelson Zboncak

Updated on May 10, 2024

Soft, sweet, and tangy baked beans make the ultimate barbecue dish. This top-rated family recipe has received hundreds of 5-star reviews and features bacon, molasses, and mustard powder for a deliciously complex flavor. Make wow-worthy homemade baked beans and kick the canned stuff to the curb. Plus, learn the best bean varieties to use for this recipe and the differences between Boston and regular baked beans.

What Kind of Beans Should You Use for Baked Beans?

Boston baked beans are traditionally made with Navy beans, a small white variety with a mellow and creamy flavor. If you don't have Navy beans, Great Northern or cannellini can be used.

Boston vs. Regular Baked Beans

Traditional baked bean recipes use brown sugar to sweeten the tomato-based sauce, while Boston baked beans rely on molasses to add a honeyed richness to the dish.

How to Make Boston Baked Beans

Ready for an irresistibly zesty bowl of baked beans made from scratch? You'll find the full recipe below with step-by-step instructions, but here's what you can expect when you make this top-rated recipe:

Begin by boiling pre-soaked navy beans, then reduce the heat and simmer for one to two hours. Layer cooked beans in a casserole dish with bacon strips, and onions, then pour the ketchup-molasses mixture over the dish. Cover and bake for three to four hours for fragrant, bubbling goodness.

How Long Do Baked Beans Last in the Fridge?

Homemade baked beans will last three to four days in the refrigerator if properly stored. Keep them in an airtight container for best results. Reheat beans easily in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in a 350 degrees F oven (covered with foil).

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"I used a quality thick-sliced hickory bacon and added a small shake of liquid smoke, says . "Out of this whole recipe, one small serving remained. This will replace my original recipe using doctored-up canned beans. These were AWESOME."

"This is the first time that I've ever made baked beans and I am so glad I found this recipe, shares home cook . "It's just what I was looking for — like what my grandmother used to make."

"Great basic recipe you can tweak to your tastes," says . "I soaked, rinsed then cooked my beans on low in my crockpot overnight and added chopped garlic to the beans while cooking. Very tasty!"

Editorial contributions by

Boston Baked Beans

4.6

(1,380)

overhead view of Boston baked beans in a bowl, on top of a kitchen towel

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

4 hrs 10 mins

Total Time:

4 hrs 20 mins

Servings:

Ingredients

2 cups dry navy beans, soaked overnight
½ pound uncooked bacon strips
1 medium onion, diced
½ cup ketchup
3 tablespoons molasses
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon dry mustard

Directions

Transfer soaked navy beans and soaking water to a saucepan.

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Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until nearly tender, approximately 1 to 2 hours. Drain and reserve the cooking liquid.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Arrange 1/2 of the beans in the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish. Place 1/2 of the bacon strips over the beans and sprinkle 1/2 of the onions over top. Repeat layers once more.

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Combine ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and dry mustard in a large saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil.
Pour sauce over the beans. Pour in just enough reserved cooking liquid to cover the beans. Cover the casserole dish with a lid or aluminum foil.

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Bake in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours. Remove the lid and continue to cook, checking every 1/2 hour or so and adding more cooking liquid if necessary to prevent the beans from getting too dry, until beans are soft and tender, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 more hours.
Serve hot and enjoy!

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)

382	Calories
6g	Fat
63g	Carbs
21g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 382
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6g	8%
Saturated Fat 2g	9%
Cholesterol 14mg	5%
Sodium 1320mg	57%
Total Carbohydrate 63g	23%
Dietary Fiber 17g	62%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 21g	41%
Vitamin C 7mg	8%
Calcium 141mg	11%
Iron 5mg	27%
Potassium 1174mg	25%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.