Print

Grandma’s Baked Beans Recipe Easy Sweet Smoky Comfort Side Dish

grandmas baked beans recipe - featured image
Print Recipe

A cozy, sweet and smoky baked beans recipe that is easy to make and perfect for family dinners or holiday gatherings. This recipe balances sweetness and smokiness with pantry staples and is better the next day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce (plain canned, not pasta sauce)
  • ½ cup (100 g) dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 slices bacon, diced (optional but highly recommended)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: chop the onion and mince the garlic. Drain and rinse the beans thoroughly. Measure out all seasonings and liquids.
  2. Heat skillet over medium heat and cook diced bacon until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving fat in pan.
  3. Add onion to skillet and cook 4-5 minutes until translucent and sweet-smelling. Add garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Return bacon to pan and add drained beans. Pour in tomato sauce, then add brown sugar, molasses, smoked paprika, and Dijon mustard. Stir gently but thoroughly.
  5. Stir in apple cider vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer skillet or baking dish to oven and bake uncovered for 45–50 minutes until sauce bubbles and thickens.
  7. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

[‘Do not skip the bacon fat for extra smoky richness; if omitting bacon, add 1 teaspoon liquid smoke.’, ‘Drain and rinse beans to reduce sodium and canned taste.’, ‘Bake uncovered to thicken sauce and avoid watery beans.’, ‘Leftover sauce freezes well and can be used for chili or pulled pork.’, ‘If sauce is too thin, simmer longer on stovetop or bake extra 10 minutes uncovered.’, ‘Avoid overbaking to prevent mushy beans.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, sweet and smoky, comfort food, easy side dish, family dinner, holiday side, pantry staples

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/grandmas-baked-beans-recipe-easy-sweet-smoky-comfort-side-dish/