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Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans

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LIZ DELLA CROCE

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Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans are the ideal side dish for summer grilling season and they could not be any easier to make from scratch.

Spoon in a bowl of slow cooker Boston baked beans.

It probably isn’t a huge surprise that my husband who was born and raised in Boston adores baked beans, along with hermit cookie bars and baked scallops with panko. Of course, he would be perfectly happy re-heating them from a can but that’s no fun. Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans are extremely easy to make, and delicious!

When I realized how easy these were to make, I kicked myself for not making them more often. But truth be told, my Aunt Patsy is the Baked Beans Queen of our family and serves them at almost every warm-weather gathering. She would never make a batch of beans without massive amounts of smoky and delicious bacon. I’m not anti-bacon, I just rarely have it sitting around in our fridge. To give these beans that unmistakable smoky flavor we crave, I rely on my BFF smoked paprika.

Why You’ll Love These Beans

  • This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free, and can be easily made vegan as well!
  • Slow cooker dishes are easy to plan ahead and are relatively low-stress.
  • It’s the perfect side dish for any BBQ or picnic.

Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for Boston baked beans.
  • Beans: I usually use dried navy beans, but if you’re in a bind and don’t have any dried beans, you can use canned.
  • Onion: A white onion gives mild onion flavor.
  • Molasses: Gives the beans the unmistakable rich, sweetness of Boston baked beans.
  • Worcestershire sauce: Full of umami, sweet, and savory flavor.
  • Sweet & savory spices: Brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper add a mix of smoky, rich, and sweet tastes to the beans.
  • Mustard: A little peppery and vinegary in flavor.
  • Ketchup: Acts as a mild tomato base for the sauce.
  • Vinegar: White balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar adds some needed acidity.

How to Make Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans

Soaking beans in a glass pyrex bowl

Step 1. Rinse and sort your dried beans then add to the bowl of a slow cooker and let soak over night.

Liz dicing a white onion.

Step 2. The next morning, drain the beans, and dice your onion. Add the soaked beans and onion back to the slow cooker.

Seasoning beans in the bowl of a slow cooker.

Step 3. Season with salt and pepper and paprika, then add the Worcestershire sauce, molasses, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and mustard.

Stirring onions and beans with seasoning in slow cooker bowl.

Step 4. Mix all of the ingredients in the slow cooker, then add water and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Slow cooker Boston baked beans in a white bowl.

When finished, check for seasoning, then serve garnished with fresh chives or parsley, and enjoy your Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between baked beans and Boston baked beans?

The key to Boston baked beans compared to other baked bean recipes is the use of molasses.

What kind of beans do you use for baked beans?

Navy beans are most common, and what I usually use. You can use cannellini or great northern beans as well though.

How long do Boston baked beans keep for?

Beans will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days. In fact, the flavor develops over time as it sits in the fridge!
Slow cooker Boston baked beans garnished with fresh chives.

More Side Dishes

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Serve it as a side at dinner, or bring it to your next potluck and be the talk of the party! These Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans will be your new favorite.

Your fork is waiting.

Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans

3.71 stars average
Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans are the ideal side dish for summer grilling season and they could not be any easier to make from scratch.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes
Serves8
CourseSide Dish
Calories136

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 pound dried beans (navy beans,Great Northern, pinto, etc.)
  • 2.5 cups water
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • cup brown sugar
  • cup molasses
  • ¼ cup ketchup or tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce Omit if you're looking to make vegan
  • 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar or cider vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  1. Rinse and sort dried beans then place in slow cooker covered with 2 inches of water and let soak overnight.
    1 pound dried beans
  2. In the morning, drain the beans then add back to the slow cooker along with all remaining ingredients. Add 2 1/2 cups fresh water plus a good pinch of salt and pepper.
    2.5 cups water, 1 medium onion, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup molasses, 1/4 cup ketchup or tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste
  3. Cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours. Check for seasoning before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 136kcalCarbohydrates: 30.4gProtein: 3.8gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 153mgFiber: 4.1gSugar: 10.9g

Liz’s Notes

Beans can be made up to two days in advance. In fact, the flavor develops over time as it sits in the fridge. Canned beans work fine too if you don’t have dried beans on hand.
Cook time may vary based on the age/freshness of the dried beans.
Omit Worcestershire sauce to make recipe vegan.

Have you tried this?

Let us know how it was!

3.71 from 62 votes (47 ratings without comment)

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115 responses to “Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans”

  1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
    Liz DellaCroce

    My kids love these as an after school snack!

  2. Jan B Avatar
    Jan B

    So easy and are great tasting to the last spoonful. I agree that a night in the fridge makes them better.

  3. Cindy Avatar
    Cindy

    how many cans of beans do you substitute for dried beans?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      4 cans of beans can be used in place of 1 pound dried.

  4. Standa Thanh Avatar
    Standa Thanh

    I am trying them for the 3th. I’m really excited about What I care most about is that eating this does weight gain? Because I’m on a diet

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Weight loss happens when you have a calorie deficit so I can’t answer that without knowing how much you’re eating and how much you’re exercising. I recommend meeting with a nutritionist!

    2. Donica M Robinson Avatar
      Donica M Robinson

      Not a nutritionist.

      Portion control is a biggie with this. If you love this style of beans be aware that there is a lot of excess sugar (and calories as a result). But since there is a ton of fiber and nutrition, it’s far better for your diet than drive thru fries or a slice of cake.

      1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
        Liz DellaCroce

        Agree!

  5. sophia Avatar
    sophia

    Look so delicious, i want eat them now

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Enjoy!!