Boston Baked Beans Recipe: A quick classic you’ll love

Boston Baked Beans are a smoky-sweet and utterly delicious recipe that makes for an ultimate BBQ side dish. They’re soft, sweet, tangy, and packed with flavor.

And so simple, you’ll never find yourself making them often.

Boston Baked Beans Inspiration

As mentioned, these baked beans are a bit healthier. And it is… with an exception.

This recipe is inspired by one of my favorite cookbooks, a cherished oldie my mother loved while I was growing up.

Laurel’s Kitchen is a now dogeared healthy resource I’ve turned to repeatedly. This Boston Baked Beans recipe is loosely inspired by theirs.

The exception? I’ve added bacon. I couldn’t not. The guys in my house would be extremely disappointed. And I love the added smoky flavor bacon brings.

If you want to keep the recipe strictly healthy, you can definitely eliminate the bacon. But oh my… it’s SO good!

What Kind of Beans Should You Use for Boston Baked Beans? 

Traditionally, this iconic recipe is made with navy beans, which are small white beans with a mellow and creamy flavor. While this is the preferred bean, Great Northern or cannellini can be substituted.

What is the Difference Between Boston Baked Beans and Regular Baked Beans?

Boston Baked beans are sweetened with molasses instead of brown sugar. This provides a distinctive honey richness to the dish.

Why is this Boston Baked Beans Recipe Quicker?

It’s all in the beans. While most traditional recipes rely on dry navy beans in the recipe, I’m simplifying the cooking time and process by using canned navy beans.

Cooking juices are necessary for a baked beans recipe so we’ll be using the canned juices here.

How to Make Boston Baked Beans

Are you ready to make an irresistible but super-simple bowl of Boston Baked Beans? You’ll find the recipe below with step-by-step instructions, but here’s a quick summary of how to make this delicious and classic recipe with an easy twist.

Begin by chopping an onion and strips of bacon. Then saute the onion in a bit of olive oil before combining the rest of the ingredients. Then transfer to a casserole dish, cover, and bake for 45 minutes or until the beans are fragrant and bubbling.

How Long Do Baked Beans Last in the Fridge? 

Homemade baked beans will last three to four days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container. Reheat beans easily in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in a 350 degrees F oven (covered with foil).

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