Ingredients
Scale
For the Beans:
- 2 cups dried navy beans (or 3 cans, drained and rinsed)
- 6 cups water (for soaking dried beans)
For the Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup ketchup (or tomato sauce)
- ¼ cup molasses (or maple syrup for a natural sweetener)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (use gluten-free or vegan alternative if needed)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional, for a smoky kick)
- 1½ cups vegetable or chicken broth
Optional Additions:
- 4 slices cooked and crumbled bacon (for a smoky meat flavor)
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (if omitting bacon but still want a deep smoky taste)
- ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar (for a touch of tanginess)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Beans (if using dried beans):
- Rinse and soak dried beans in 6 cups of water overnight.
- Drain, rinse, and place in a pot with fresh water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45–60 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain and set aside.
2. Make the Sauce:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Sauté onions and garlic for 3–4 minutes until soft.
- Stir in ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and chili powder.
- Pour in broth and mix well.
3. Combine and Bake:
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Stir the cooked beans into the sauce, ensuring they are well-coated.
- Transfer everything to a baking dish or oven-safe pot.
- Cover with foil and bake for 1½–2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- If the beans seem dry, add more broth as needed.
4. Serve and Enjoy:
- Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or crispy bacon bits.
Notes
- For a quicker version: Use canned beans and reduce baking time to 30–45 minutes.
- For extra smokiness: Add a teaspoon of liquid smoke or use smoked paprika.
- Make it vegan: Omit Worcestershire sauce (or use a vegan version) and skip the bacon.
- Thicker sauce: Let beans simmer uncovered for 15 minutes before serving.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, BBQ
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cup
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg (without bacon)