Description

This Homemade Baked Beans with Bacon recipe is a classic Southern comfort dish, featuring tender kidney beans slow-cooked in a rich, smoky, and slightly sweet tomato-based sauce with crispy bacon and a perfect blend of spices. Ideal as a hearty side or a standalone meal, these baked beans can be prepared on the stovetop, baked in the oven, or in a slow cooker, delivering deep flavors and a thick, glossy sauce every time.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Aromatics

1 tbsp oil
150g / 5 oz bacon, chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 1/2 tsp garlic paste)

Beans and Sauce

3 x 400g / 14 oz cans red kidney or other beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup tomato passata or tomato puree
1/4 cup molasses
2 tbsp cider vinegar
3/4 cup water
2 tsp mustard powder (or 1 tbsp Dijon or American mustard)
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

Cook Bacon: Heat oil over high heat in a skillet (or skip oil if bacon is very fatty). Add chopped bacon and cook for 2 minutes until it starts to crisp.
Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add finely chopped onion and minced garlic to the bacon. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions and bacon are golden and fragrant.
Add Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the drained beans, ketchup, tomato passata, molasses, cider vinegar, water, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine all flavors thoroughly.
Simmer or Bake: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Then, cover with a lid and either reduce heat to medium-low to simmer gently on the stovetop for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, or transfer to an oven-safe dish, cover, and bake at 160°C / 325°F for 60 minutes.
Slow Cooker Option: To cook in a slow cooker, reduce the water to 1/4 cup, transfer the mixture to the slow cooker, and cook on low for 6 hours.
Thicken Sauce and Season: After cooking, check that the sauce is thick and glossy. If not thick enough, continue cooking uncovered to reduce the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding more salt and pepper if desired.

Notes

This recipe works well as a side dish for barbecue, grilled meats, or as a hearty vegetarian meal if bacon is omitted.
You can substitute kidney beans with other beans like black beans or pinto beans if preferred.
Molasses adds a distinct sweetness and depth; if unavailable, use brown sugar as a substitute with slightly less quantity.
For a spicier dish, adjust cayenne pepper or add fresh chili as desired.
The dish thickens as it cools, so consider that before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Southern American

Keywords: baked beans, southern baked beans, homemade baked beans, bacon baked beans, baked beans recipe, classic southern, comfort food