Description
A comforting and flavorful baked beans recipe that surpasses store-bought versions with its rich blend of navy beans simmered to tenderness and baked in a sweet and tangy sauce with brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and aromatic spices.
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Cooking Liquid
- 2 cups navy beans
- 4 cups water
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Soak Beans: Soak the navy beans overnight in water to soften them and reduce cooking time.
- Drain and Rinse: Drain the soaked beans and rinse thoroughly to remove any residue.
- Cook Beans: In a pot, combine the beans and 4 cups of fresh water and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 1 hour until the beans are tender but not mushy.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the beans.
- Mix Ingredients: In a baking dish, combine the cooked beans with brown sugar, ketchup, chopped onion, mustard, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Stir to mix all the flavors well.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until the mixture is bubbly and the flavors meld beautifully.
Notes
- Soaking the beans overnight drastically improves their texture and reduces cooking time.
- Use fresh mustard and ketchup for the best flavor impact.
- For a thicker sauce, you can mash a small portion of the beans before mixing the sauce ingredients.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger batches and freezes well for meal prep.
- If preferred, smoked paprika or a dash of hot sauce can be added for a smoky or spicy twist.
