Real Old Fashion Oven Baked Beans

Submitted by Ackman

"Doctored-up "canned beans" are OK if you're in a hurry...I've done it more than once, but for REAL Baked Beans, give these a try! The aroma of them baking in the oven is heavenly!!! A stoneware bean pot is preferred, but you can use a small covered roaster or casserole if need be. My Dad always used lean salt pork, but I prefer to use a good smoked bacon."

 

• Ready In: 30hrs
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 10-12

ingredients

• 1 lb navy beans
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• water
• 1⁄2 cup light molasses
• 1⁄2 cup catsup
• 1⁄2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons seasoning salt, Lawry's preferred
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1⁄2 cup onion, chopped
• 1⁄2 lb thick slab bacon, diced (thick sliced is OK)

directions

1. THE NIGHT BEFORE:

2. Wash & sort beans for any small stones.
3. Place in a large kettle & cover with water, about 3 inches above the beans.
4. Cover & soak overnight.

5. THE NEXT MORNING:

6. Drain & add 6 cups fresh cold water.
7. Stir in the baking soda (this helps remove the "music" afterwards, but no guarantees. LOL!).
8. Cover & bring to a boil -- WATCH CAREFULLY so as to not boil over!
9. Reduce heat & simmer for 10 minutes.
10. Drain & reserve the bean water.
11. Preheat oven to 300°.
12. Add remaing ingredients plus 2 cups of the reserved bean water.
13. Place everything into the bean pot (or whatever you're using) & cover.
14. (Use double-thick aluminum foil to cover if need to.).
15. Bake for 3 to 4 hours.
16. IMPORTANT: Check every couple of hours, adding more bean water if needed, so the beans don't cook dry.

Reviews

[Nicest of the damned]

Just the recipe I was looking for, thanks! Just as good, if not better then canned considering the beans are much firmer when you do it yourself. I didn't chop the onion, I cut it in half and scooped it out after it was done (covers your tracks around onion haters). Turned out perfect in the crock pot kids really liked it too. Try it over mac n cheese as a main course :) sounds crazy but it's really good!

 

[Newmsy]

I made your yummy beans as one of the sides for Easter Dinner today. Delicious! I didn't make any changes; I followed the recipe right down the line. Thanks for sharing we all enjoyed them.

 

[cahartley]

This is, without a doubt, the BEST recipe for baked beans ever.<br/>I didn't have dried mustard so I subbed 2 teaspoons of Koops brown mustard.<br/>I bumped up the bacon content to about 3/4 lb and "par fried" the bacon at low heat to melt off some of the fat.<br/>I can't wait to make them again!<br/>There must be something to the baking soda thing.........they didn't have "that" effect....... ;)

 

[Diplomancer]

Superb flavor, but too sweet for my taste. Sampled half way through baking process and bought back some acidity with 2T apple cider vinegar and couple splashes of rye whiskey. Perfect. Like cahartley, cooked up diced bacon, then added and sautéed the onions. Not good for you but so delicious. Used Great Northern beans cause that's what I had on hand; perhaps not quite as firm as navy but still wonderful. Also threw in some extra diced ham, again just because it was available. I will be making these for every summer outing (just cutting the sugar about in half). THANK YOU for a great recipe.

 

[cook from scratch]

I actually used four cans of navy beans and doubled the recipe since I was in a bit of a hurry. This was my first attempt at oven baked beans. Halved the sugar and used dark molasses and brought only a tiny bit home from our family potluck. Thanks so a real keeper!!