Description
Boston Baked Beans is a classic American side dish featuring slow-baked navy beans simmered with molasses, salt pork, and a blend of spices for a rich, sweet, and savory flavor. This comfort food staple is perfect for family dinners and pairs wonderfully with grilled meats or as part of a traditional New England meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Meat
- 1 pound dried navy beans, rinsed
- 6 ounces salt pork or thick-cut bacon, diced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
Soaking and Cooking Liquids
- 6 cups water (for soaking)
- 2 cups hot water (for baking)
Sauce
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Prepare and Soak Beans: Place the rinsed navy beans in a large pot with 6 cups of water and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes to begin softening the beans, then remove from heat. Cover the pot and let the beans soak for 1 hour to rehydrate fully.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 300°F (150°C) to prepare for slow baking the beans.
- Layer Ingredients: Drain the soaked beans, reserving the soaking liquid to use later. In a Dutch oven or deep baking dish, layer half of the beans first, then half of the diced salt pork and chopped onion. Repeat with the remaining beans, salt pork, and onion to create layers.
- Make Sauce: In a small bowl, combine molasses, brown sugar, yellow mustard, salt, black pepper, ground cloves, and ground ginger. Mix thoroughly until the sauce is smooth and uniform.
- Add Sauce and Liquids: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the layered beans in the baking dish. Then, add enough of the reserved soaking liquid along with the 2 cups of hot water to just cover the beans. This moisture is essential for baking and preventing the beans from drying out.
- Bake Covered: Cover the Dutch oven or baking dish tightly and bake in the preheated oven for 4 hours, stirring once halfway through to ensure even cooking and flavor distribution.
- Uncover and Finish Baking: Remove the cover and continue baking the beans for an additional 30 to 60 minutes. This step thickens the sauce to a glossy finish and ensures the beans are tender. Monitor the beans during this time and add more water if needed to keep the mixture moist.
Notes
- For the best flavor, cook the beans low and slow to allow all the spices and pork flavors to meld fully.
- You can substitute bacon for salt pork if that is preferred or more readily available.
- Boston baked beans taste even better the next day after the flavors have had time to develop and deepen.
- When reheating, add a little water to maintain moisture and stir gently to preserve the sauce’s consistency.
