Make savory homemade baked beans in the slow cooker, oven, or Instant Pot. Slightly sweet and smoky sauce with a hint of tang \u2013 it\u2019s the perfect side dish for your next gathering or family meal!<\/p>\n
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\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nGrowing up, home style baked beans were a staple at any party or potluck<\/a>. I always loved the sweet, tangy, maple-y flavor of baked beans, and I often went back for seconds or thirds. (Much like Broccoli Salad<\/a> or Creamy Coleslaw<\/a>!)<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know if those casserole dishes were cans of Heinz baked beans or Bush\u2019s baked beans doctored up with some bacon or onion, or if they were truly made from scratch<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026 but either way, I\u2019ve created my own go-to baked beans recipe that not only reminds me of my childhood, but my friends and family keep coming back for seconds and thirds too!<\/p>\n My homemade baked beans recipe is BEYOND easy, as every crockpot recipe should be. But that\u2019s not the only reason I love it!<\/p>\n The list of ingredients may look intimidating, but most of this list is spices you already have.<\/p>\n Some baked beans recipes include finely chopped onion and green pepper in the bean mixture. I don\u2019t typically add those, but they would taste great if you have them on hand! I also think the baked beans get tangy enough from the mustard, but you can add a splash of apple cider vinegar<\/a> for extra zing if you like.<\/p>\n Psst! Not all salts are made the same! I love Ava Jane\u2019s Kitchen because it doesn\u2019t have microplastics<\/a> (gross, right?) and it\u2019s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!).<\/em><\/p>\n I like to stock up on canned beans when they\u2019re on sale, making this canned baked beans crock pot recipe an easy side dish for when you have no idea what to make.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re using canned beans, look for those with the simplest ingredients. Just beans, water, and salt. No need for added sugars or flavorings here \u2013 we\u2019re going to doctor them up ourselves!<\/p>\n If you want to use dried beans, you\u2019ll need to cook your beans first and then continue with the recipe as written. I recommend either Slow Cooker Beans<\/a> or Instant Pot Beans<\/a>.<\/p>\n I really like the flavor of navy and great northern beans for baked beans, but red kidney beans, pink kidney beans, pinto beans, and \u201csmall white beans\u201d are also good options. Feel free to use all of one kind of bean or mix and match a variety of beans.<\/p>\n Follow these instructions for making the baked beans recipe using the slow cooker<\/a> (or find the directions for the oven and Instant Pot<\/a> below).<\/p>\n Step 1: Drain and rinse the canned beans at least three times. <\/strong>This will help eliminate the oligosaccharides, which are difficult for people to digest and often lead to bloating and gas<\/a>. <\/p>\n Step 2: Cook the bacon slices in a pan (if using), <\/strong>drain the bacon grease, let the bacon rest on paper towels, then dice the bacon into small pieces.<\/p>\n Step 3: Combine the beans, bacon, and the remaining ingredients in a slow cooker,<\/strong> stir well, and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours. Do not disturb the beans while they are cooking!<\/p>\n Step 4: Gently stir the beans and taste.<\/strong> Adjust the seasonings and spices if you want it sweeter (maple syrup<\/a>), more tomato-y (ketchup or tomato paste), more tangy (mustard), or smokier (smoked paprika).<\/p>\n Follow steps 1 through 3 above, except combine the ingredients in a Dutch oven<\/a> rather than a crock pot. Bake the beans at 325F for about 2 hours or until the sauce thickens. If you use a baking dish, be sure to cover it with aluminum foil.<\/p>\n Follow steps 1 through 3 above, except cook the bacon in the Instant Pot<\/a> on the saut\u00e9 function. Then add the remaining ingredients to the Instant Pot and cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes, followed by a natural pressure release.<\/p>\n Baked beans are one of my favorite sides for a summer meal with Burgers<\/a>, potato salad, and Pasta Salad<\/a>. But you can enjoy this baked beans recipe year-round! Try it with these:<\/p>\n The fact that this healthy recipe for baked beans doesn\u2019t include brown sugar should already make it stand out against other traditional baked bean recipes. Don\u2019t worry though \u2013 it\u2019s still sweet enough to know you\u2019re having Boston baked beans, but not so sweet that they\u2019re bordering on dessert.<\/p>\n You can make it even healthier by ensuring your ketchup doesn\u2019t have high fructose corn syrup, your maple syrup is actually maple syrup<\/a> (not pancake syrup), and your beans don\u2019t have any unnecessary ingredients.<\/p>\n Plus, if you think about the nutrients in beans, you\u2019re making a savory side dish full of protein and fiber!<\/p>\n To make sure you have a balanced plate, serve baked beans with lean protein like chicken breast, boneless skinless chicken thighs, or lean ground beef. Then fill the bulk of your plate with low-carb vegetables like broccoli<\/a> or asparagus<\/a> or a delicious salad<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yes! This slow cooker baked bean recipe tastes even better when it\u2019s made ahead of time. You can make your beans the day before and store them in an airtight container<\/a> in the refrigerator overnight, or you can make them several days or weeks ahead of time and store them in the freezer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A traditional baked beans recipe uses brown sugar as the sweetener, while Boston baked beans rely on molasses. I opted to skip the brown sugar and use maple syrup instead but I also added a bit of molasses<\/a> for that depth of flavor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Baked beans are considered both a carbohydrate from the dietary fiber and sugars and a source of plant-based protein.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ready to find more baking with beans recipes? Try these slow cooker favorites!<\/p>\n Sign up for my FREE Fight Inflation Workshop<\/strong>\u00a0and learn simple strategies to save money, even with rising food costs!\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\nHOMEMADE SLOW COOKER BAKED BEANS RECIPE<\/h2>\n
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BAKED BEAN RECIPE INGREDIENTS<\/h2>\n
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BEANS FOR BAKED BEANS<\/h2>\n
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HOW TO MAKE BAKED BEANS IN THE SLOW COOKER<\/h2>\n
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RECIPE FOR BAKED BEANS IN THE OVEN<\/h2>\n
INSTANT POT BAKED BEANS<\/h2>\n
SERVE WITH EASY BAKED BEANS<\/h2>\n
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ARE BAKED BEANS HEALTHY?<\/h2>\n
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BAKING WITH BEANS RECIPES FAQS<\/h2>\n
Can baked beans be made ahead of time?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s the difference between Boston baked beans and Heinz baked beans (or Bush\u2019s baked beans)?<\/h3>\n
Are baked beans protein or carbs?<\/h3>\n
MORE SLOW COOKER RECIPES WITH BEANS<\/h2>\n
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Fight Inflation Workshop!<\/h4>\n