Do baked beans have a season? I couldn’t decide when it’d be appropriate to share this recipe with you guys.
On the one hand, I often associate baked beans with summer. I think it’s because growing up we always ate them with hot dogs, and though I really don’t eat hot dogs much anymore, when I do, it’s in the summer. But even more than that, baked beans just seem like the kind of summer food you bring to a party or barbecue. They’re such a good side with burgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, ribs…the list goes on and on!
And then just when I’m convinced they’re obviously a summer food, I start thinking about how much I love baked beans in the cooler months. Baked beans = total comfort food for me and the comfort food cravings really ramp up when fall and winter arrive. And unlike in the summer, they’re not usually a side dish. I can, and often have, made a meal out of just beans.
The other good thing about making baked beans in the cooler weather? Most recipes I’ve seen (this one included) will require your oven to be on for an extended period of time. We’re talking at least 5 hours in this recipe! And while 99% of the time is hands-off, most people aren’t jazzed about having a 300 degree oven heating their house up for half of the day in the middle of summer.
Ultimately, I figured I’d post this recipe here in late August, sort of straddling the line between summer and fall. For me, I guess there really is no bad time to make baked beans π
Don’t be scared off by the long baking time in this recipe – as I mentioned above, there is very little hands-on time here; I promise making baked beans at home is crazy simple! I’ve often resorted to buying them in cans at the store and while I do like those, these were infinitely better. The flavor is much more complex and intense even though the ingredient list is fairly short. In addition to the dried beans, you’re only adding molasses, mustard, and cider vinegar. Oh, and pork! Both bacon and salt pork, and yes they’re both necessary. The beans are slightly sweet and just a little tangy. The recipe makes a ton of beans, but leftovers reheat wonderfully so no worries!
Boston Baked Beans
barely adapted from Cook’s Illustrated, January/February 2003
4 oz salt pork, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 oz bacon (about 2 slices), cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon molasses, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons brown mustard
1 lb dried small white beans (I used navy beans), rinsed and picked over
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
9 cups water
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
Preheat oven to 300 F, with a rack in the lower third of the oven.
Set a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the salt pork and bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the fat has rendered and the pork is golden brown. Stir in the chopped onion, allowing it to cook in the fat that has been rendered, until softened and golden. Add 1/2 cup of the molasses, the mustard, beans, salt, and water. Stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil. Place the cover on the pot and transfer to the oven. Bake (covered) for about 4 hours, or until the beans are tender – you only need to remove the pot and stir once at the halfway point of the baking time (so 2 hours in). Once the beans are tender, remove the cover from the pot and continue baking for another 60-90 minutes, or until the cooking liquid has reduced and become syrupy.
Take the pot out of the oven and stir in the remaining tablespoon of molasses and the cider vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper as necessary. Serve!
The beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
I think this was a perfect time to post this recipe! Baked bean are perfect for Labor day and also perfect for football season!
These look great and I personally love the 5 hour cooking time. That means total comfort food!
For me baked beans don’t have a season because I eat them all year round! I’ve never tried boston beans since I don’t eat meat and didn’t grow up with them, but they look like the beans my Nanny made when I was a kid and I went CRAZY for them! We make maple beans now and they do the job…but honestly, I miss beans like this sometimes π
I know I say this for pretty much everything you post but baked beans are definitely my favorite thing ever. And definitely an all-year thing! I’ve never made them with dried beans but now I have to give it a try!
I associate them with summer, too, because we always had ’em with grilled hot dogs + burgers. These look fantastic!
Ive never made homemade beans before but these look perfect!! I feel like I only eat beans in the Summertime..I may need to rethink that logic now!
These look beyond perfect! Wow!
Homemade baked beans? So impressive!!
I’ve made this recipe and it is sooo good. I do put a little maple syrup in at the end, being the Vermonter that I am. π Salt pork can be darn hard to find, but you’re right that they are both necessary. And yes, something this good should have no season.
5 hours in this heat?? well, it has been cooling down at an unusual pace so they may be the right dish for THIS summer.
I have the same problem with deciding when to post/make baked beans! I mean…they’re decidedly a bbq side so they must be summer-esque, right?
Do baked beans have a season! You bet, it is called Saturday night. Both my parents grew up in Maine and we always had baked beans on Saturday night and Sunday for breakfast! Can’t wait to try your baked beans! kathy
These beans look fabulous, Tracy! Seriously – so, so good. It looks like just the type of recipe I’ve been wanting to make and I guess I now have some weekend bean-baking to do this weekend. Thanks for sharing! π
These are my kind of baked beans!!
I am not a fan of baked beans, but my husband loves them! I really need to try to make something aside from the ones from a can for him.
Good Lord, these look perfect. I’ve not made baked beans from scratch – I need to get on that!
These look amazing! And I agree, I think baked beans are good all year round!!
We love beans and baked beans are the first bean I can ever remember eating. they are a classic that will never go out of style.
Can I do these in a slow cooker. They look absolutely fabulous. Thanks
Oh my boyfriend is going to go crazy over this recipe! Just what I needed to get back into the good books with him π
These look wonderful. I love baked beans, but I’ve never wanted to take the time to make them from scratch. This recipe may have me convinced, even though it’s sort of always summer here.
@Anonymous: You can definitely make baked beans in the slow cooker, but I’m not sure how this particular recipe would turn out since I haven’t tried it. You might want to google some recipes specifically designed for the slow cooker and start there π
i’m going to try this in my slower cooker (any tips 1st?)that way i can do it over night (no heat issue)it’s ok i just read the comment from annon….