Boston Baked Beans
Make Boston Baked Beans once and it will go straight into your regular rotation. Prep takes about under an hour, cooking around under an hour, and it serves 4. Sweet without being heavy, it works just as well for an afternoon treat as for dessert. Scroll down for the ingredients, the step-by-step method, and answers to the questions we get asked most about it.
- Level Easy
Ingredients
- 6 Rashers thick cut bacon, sliced (or 5 drops liquid smoke)
- 4 cup Canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup Molasses
- ¼ cup Blackstrap molasses, plus more as needed
- ¼ cup Dark Brown Sugar
- 2 tbsp Dark Rum
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Dry mustard
Method
- Cook bacon. Separate the meat from the fat, and chop the bacon.
- Place 1 tbsp of the bacon fat into a large stainless steel pan. Add kidney beans and sauté over medium-high heat.
- Add rum and tilt to ignite. If you do not have a gas stove, simply light with a fire stick.
- Add remaining ingredients and chopped bacon and fold to combine.
- Bake in a 325°F oven for 1 ½ hours, adding blackstrap molasses occasionally to prevent drying.
Tips for the best Boston Baked Beans
- Rest the finished dish for a few minutes before serving — it lets the flavours settle and the texture firm up.
- Do not crowd the pan. Cook in batches if needed so everything browns instead of steaming.
- Read the whole method before you start and measure out the 9 ingredients first — it keeps the pace relaxed once the heat is on.
- Taste as you go. Seasoning at the end is fine, but adjusting halfway through gives a more balanced result.
Variations
- Spicier version: add a pinch of chilli flakes or a sliced fresh chilli with the aromatics.
- Vegetable boost: stir in a handful of spinach, peas or diced peppers in the last few minutes of cooking.
- Individual portions: divide into ramekins or a muffin tin and reduce the baking time by about a third.
Serving ideas
Serve slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a spoon of thick cream.
Storage
Keeps in an airtight container at room temperature for 2–3 days, or refrigerated for up to a week. Most versions freeze well for 2 months.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make Boston Baked Beans ahead of time?
Yes. It actually improves after a few hours, so make it earlier in the day and reheat gently before serving.
Is this Boston Baked Beans recipe medium to make?
It is rated medium: 9 ingredients and 5 steps. Follow the order and the tips above and it is very forgiving.
What can I substitute for rashers thick cut bacon?
Any ingredient with a similar texture and cooking time works; see the variations below for ideas. Keep quantities the same and adjust seasoning at the end.
Adapted from Wikibooks Cookbook, CC BY-SA 4.0 — source
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