Boston Baked Beans

Warm, hearty, and steeped in tradition, Boston Baked Beans are a quintessential comfort food that captures the rich history of New England cuisine. This classic recipe features tender navy beans slow-baked to perfection with layers of savory salt pork and sweet, earthy molasses, creating a beautifully balanced dish that’s both wholesome and satisfying. Flavored with brown sugar, mustard, and a hint of black pepper, these baked beans develop a deep caramelized glaze after hours of low-and-slow cooking in the oven. Ideal as a side with barbecued meats or as the star of a casual family dinner, this dish is as aromatic as it is delicious. With simple ingredients and a hands-off cooking process, Boston Baked Beans are the ultimate make-ahead comfort dish that will fill your kitchen with irresistibly warm, smoky-sweet aromas.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:480 mins

Total Time:495 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 450 grams dried navy beans
• 100 grams salt pork
• 1 large, diced onion
• 960 milliliters water
• 160 milliliters molasses
• 50 grams brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

Step 1

Rinse and sort the navy beans, removing any debris. Place them in a large bowl, cover with water, and soak overnight.

Step 2

Drain and rinse the beans. Place them in a large saucepan and cover with fresh water. Add the baking soda. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 10 minutes.

Step 3

Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F).

Step 4

Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid.

Step 5

In a large oven-proof pot or Dutch oven, layer the beans with the diced onion and pieces of salt pork.

Step 6

In a medium bowl, mix together the molasses, brown sugar, dry mustard, salt, and black pepper. Add the reserved bean cooking liquid to the molasses mixture until you have about 960 ml of liquid in total. Stir well to combine.

Step 7

Pour the molasses mixture over the beans in the pot. If necessary, add more water to cover the beans.

Step 8

Cover the pot and bake in the preheated oven for about 6 to 8 hours. Check the beans every couple of hours, adding more water if they appear too dry.

Step 9

Once the beans are tender and the sauce is thick, remove the cover for the last 30 minutes of baking to allow the sauce to thicken further if desired.

Step 10

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your homemade Boston Baked Beans!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	2002 grams (2002.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2937

Total Fat 58.20g	75%
Saturated Fat 21.50g	108%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 70mg	23%
Sodium 5142mg	224%
Total Carbohydrate 506.00g	184%
Dietary Fiber 72.40g	259%
Total Sugars 229.20g
Protein 113.80g	228%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1270mg	98%
Iron 36mg	198%
Potassium 10019mg	213%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 17.4%

Protein: 15.2%

Carbs: 67.4%