Name: Boston Baked Beans
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 3 h 15 min
Total time: 3 h 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: One pound dried navy beans; Six cups water, plus additional water for soaking; One medium onion, finely chopped; Four ounces bacon, diced; One-half cup molasses; One-quarter cup brown sugar; Two tablespoons Dijon or yellow mustard; One tablespoon apple cider vinegar; One teaspoon salt; One-half teaspoon black pepper; One-half teaspoon smoked paprika; Two cups hot water or low-sodium broth

Description

At its most fundamental level, traditional Boston baked beans is a slow-cooked casserole consisting of dried white beans, cured pork fat, aromatic yellow onions, and a deeply caramelized liquid base. Unlike quick stovetop bean dishes that rely on heavy tomato paste or chili powder, this recipe relies on dark molasses as its signature sweet flavor anchor.

Ingredients

Scale

One pound dried navy beans
Six cups water, plus additional water for soaking
One medium onion, finely chopped
Four ounces bacon, diced
One-half cup molasses
One-quarter cup brown sugar
Two tablespoons Dijon or yellow mustard
One tablespoon apple cider vinegar
One teaspoon salt
One-half teaspoon black pepper
One-half teaspoon smoked paprika
Two cups hot water or low-sodium broth

Instructions

Soak the beans:
Place the dried navy beans in a large bowl and cover with plenty of water. Soak overnight, then drain and rinse.
Cook the beans:
Transfer the beans to a large pot and cover with fresh water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45–60 minutes, until the beans are partially tender. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Prepare the sauce:
In a bowl, whisk together the molasses, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
Combine:
Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). In a Dutch oven or deep baking dish, combine the beans, onion, and diced bacon. Pour the molasses mixture over everything and stir gently. Add the hot water or reserved bean liquid.
Bake:
Cover and bake for 2½ hours. Stir occasionally and add a little more hot water if the beans become too dry.
Finish uncovered:
Remove the lid and bake for another 30–45 minutes, until the beans are tender and the sauce is thick, glossy, and rich.
Rest and serve:
Let the beans rest for 10 minutes before serving. They’re delicious alongside grilled meats, sausages, cornbread, or crusty bread.

Notes

For the deepest traditional Boston flavor, use good-quality molasses and cook the beans slowly. The sauce should be sweet, savory, tangy, and rich without becoming overly sugary.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 390 kcal

Keywords: Authentic Boston baked beans, slow cooked navy beans, molasses baked beans, New England baked beans