This easy Boston baked beans side dish recipe, is made with navy beans, onion and bacon baked until bubbly in a tangy vinegar-molasses sauce.
My husband was born and raised in Boston and I lived there for 9 years so this baked beans recipe is a long time coming. Don’t worry, I promise it was worth the wait.
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Hearty, comforting and great for prepping ahead of time, Boston baked beans is one of those crowd-pleasing side dishes that you know will always be a hit.
The secret to my Boston baked beans recipe is all the sauce. Sweet, tangy and a slight kick of heat, my molasses-based sauce is made with a variety of staples you probably already have on hand including ketchup, Dijon mustard and Nature’s Intent Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
To keep the beans creamy and moist, I top the entire pan with pieces of bacon before baking until golden brown and bubbly. The smoky bacon is the perfect balance to the sweet molasses and acidic vinegar.
The ultimate party dish for feeding a crowd or easy weeknight side dish for serving with burgers or grilled chicken, I guarantee your friends and family will go crazy for these Boston baked beans.
Your fork is waiting.
This easy Boston baked beans side dish recipe is made with navy beans, onion and bacon baked until bubbly in a tangy vinegar-molasses sauce.
- 4 cups navy beans drained and rinsed
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Nature's Intent Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne optional
- 8 slices bacon cut in 1/2 inch pieces
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
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Place the beans and onion in a 9 x 13 baking dish; set aside.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the next 9 ingredients (molasses through cayenne) and pour mixture over the beans and onion. Top with bacon pieces and bake until warm and bubbly, about 45 minutes.
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Note: If you want crispy bacon on top, stick the pan under the broiler for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Recipe Video
Photography by Alejandro Photography // Recipe by The Lemon Bowl
Disclosure: Nature’s Intent Organic Apple Cider Vinegar has compensated me for my time to create this recipe. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible. All thoughts are my own.
Check out my Pinterest board to see more of my recipes!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
I drink Nature’s Intent ACV straight every day – it makes me feel so good! I love that you added it to this comfort food goodness!
Liz DellaCroce
I need to try that!!
Gina @Running to the Kitchen
Loving all that bacon!!
Liren | Kitchen Confidante
That layer of bacon is heaven!
Julia
My kids love baked beans! These look even better than the ones I make.
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles
Total comfort. I love when fall temps dip, to enjoy a meal with baked beans!
Jennifer
You had me at BACON!!! These beans look so delicious, I can’t wait to make them for my husband! :)
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you love them!
Sherwood
Should the onion and beans be mixed together or layered? Or does it matter? I couldn’t tell by the photos.
Liz DellaCroce
It doesn’t matter but I mixed them together! :)
Sherwood
That does sound like the tastier option. (I looooove onions.) Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
Enjoy!
POlly
Do you soak the beans? I have always soaked the beans overnight. I am also a former Biostonian! Great list of ingredients!
Liz DellaCroce
So here’s the deal – I wanted this to be a weeknight side dish recipe so I used canned beans. My thought is that I’d rather people make this recipe more than once a year. That said, if you want to use dried beans soak them overnight then cook them for 1-2 hours before adding them to this recipe. I love to cook them with onion, garlic, bay and rosemary which I then discard but you’re welcome to cook the beans however you wish. :) Does that help? PS: Where in Boston are you from? I went to Boston University and my husband is from Saugus!
Jett Whitfield
Oh yesssss! The bacon always makes things better.
Thanks again for sharing a delicious recipe =)
Liz DellaCroce
It really does!!! I hope you like it Jett!