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The Best Baked Beans

The Best Baked Beans
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The Best Baked Beans are a classic comfort food featuring a rich, smoky, sweet, and tangy flavor profile with a perfect tender yet firm texture. Ideal for barbecues, breakfasts, or weeknight dinners, these baked beans bring warmth and depth to any meal with simple ingredients and easy preparation, ensuring a memorable and satisfying dish every time.

Ingredients

Scale

Beans and Protein

  • 1 pound Great Northern beans (dried)
  • 6 ounces bacon or smoked sausage, diced

Vegetables and Sauce Base

  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 6 tablespoons tomato paste or ketchup

Sweeteners and Seasonings

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar or molasses
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Soak and Prepare the Beans: Start by soaking your Great Northern beans overnight in cold water. This softens them, reduces cooking time, and helps ensure an even tender texture throughout.
  2. Cook the Bacon and Sauté Onions: In a large skillet, cook diced bacon until crispy, then remove and drain excess fat, leaving some in the pan. Sauté finely chopped onions in this flavorful bacon fat until translucent and softened.
  3. Combine Ingredients in a Baking Dish: Drain the soaked beans and add them to a deep baking dish or Dutch oven along with cooked bacon, sautéed onions, tomato paste, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Stir well to combine.
  4. Bake Low and Slow: Cover the dish tightly with foil or a lid and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 2 to 3 hours, stirring every 45 minutes to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
  5. Final Taste and Adjustments: Once the beans are tender and saucy, taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or a splash of vinegar for brightness before serving.

Notes

  • Use dried beans for the best texture, as canned beans can become mushy.
  • Slow baking allows flavors to meld deeply and produces perfectly tender beans.
  • Soaking beans overnight reduces cooking time and improves digestibility.
  • Add seasoning gradually to balance sweetness and acidity without overpowering the dish.
  • Incorporate smoky elements like bacon, smoked sausage, or liquid smoke for authentic flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, Great Northern beans, smoky baked beans, comfort food, barbecue side dish, easy baked beans, homemade baked beans

Find it online: https://recipesemilly.com/the-best-baked-beans/