Description
A classic recipe for Boston Baked Beans, featuring navy beans, bacon, and a sweet molasses sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups dried navy beans
- 1/2 pound bacon, diced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Rinse the navy beans under cold water and remove any debris. Soak the beans in a large bowl of water overnight. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- In a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven, cook the diced bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pot.
- Add the chopped onion to the pot and sauté in the bacon drippings until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the soaked beans, molasses, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using).
- Pour in 4 cups of water and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for 4 to 5 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more water if necessary to keep the beans covered.
- In the last hour of baking, stir in the reserved bacon.
- Once the beans are tender and the sauce is thickened, remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of water. Add smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
- Experiment with different sweeteners like maple syrup or honey for a unique twist on the traditional flavor.
- Prep Time: 12 hours
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Boston Baked Beans, navy beans, molasses, bacon