This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Please see our disclaimer for more information.

Are you ready for the best baked beans ever?! If you’ve been around Homespun Oasis for long, you know I’m a huge fan of beans. Pinto, black, white, red, lentils, garbanzo…you name it, I cook it! When we’re tired of eating regular boiled or sprouted beans, baking gives them new life. During the cold days of winter in Wyoming, the long, slow simmer fills the house with warmth while making my mouth water in anticipation. Using the crockpot, stovetop, or Sun Oven gives the perfect warm-weather treat.

Not-Really Maine Baked Beans

July is National Baked Bean month, making it the perfect time to cook up a batch or two. This baked bean recipe is a full meal, especially when adding the optional meat or by serving a slice of sourdough bread or cornbread on the side. Looking for a side dish? Leave out the meat.

Leftover baked beans keep for several days in the fridge. They can also be frozen and enjoyed later. When thawing frozen baked beans, I’ve found a slow thaw in the fridge results in the least mushy beans.

Not-Really Maine Baked Beans

Not-Really Maine Baked Beans

These amazing baked beans far surpass anything out of a can. This is a recipe adapted from The Complete Tightwad Gazette. This recipe will make a good sized batch of baked beans, plan on leftovers.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 lbs dry beans (about 5 cups)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 medium onions, diced
  • 1/2 lbs bacon, turkey bacon, farmer's bacon, sausage, or ground meat (optional)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2/3 cup molasses
  • 2 tsp dry mustard
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Pick over the beans to remove any stones or debris and rinse thoroughly.
  • Soak the beans in plain water the night before you want to cook them or up to 24 hours. I usually soak them right in the stockpot I’ll use to cook them in, making sure I’ve added plenty of water. The beans will swell and nearly triple in volume.
  • At the end of your soaking time, drain the soaking water off, give them a good rinse, and put the beans back in the stockpot and cover with fresh water. Add the baking soda, then parboil the beans until the skins crack when blown upon.
  • If you are using sausage or ground meat, you’ll want to brown it when the beans are close to done.
  • You’ll need 2 bean pots or large casserole dishes for baking the beans. Cut the onions into a large dice and mix in with the beans. Divide the parboiled beans between the two dishes, reserving a quart of water.
  • If using bacon or farmer’s bacon (uncured), cut and add to the top of the beans. If using sausage, add the browned sausage now.
  • In a separate bowl, mix honey, molasses, dry mustard, and salt with the quart of reserved bean water. Mix well to combine and then divide between the two dishes.
  • Bake at 300 degrees for 6 to 8 hours. You may need to add additional water during baking.

Notes

This recipe can be cooked in the Sun Oven or other solar cooker without any changes to the ingredients. Maintain 350° in your Sun Oven for 6 hours. Begin testing for doneness at around the 4 hour mark when you are repositioning the oven. Sometimes they'll be done early, sometimes they'll need longer than 6 hours. 

Learn How to Cook With Beans

Stretchy Beans: Nutritious & Economical Meals the Easy Way

Do you struggle with feeding your family delicious, healthy meals? Are you tired of trying to figure out what’s for dinner each night? Do you cringe when you see how much money your family spends on groceries each month?

If so, Stretchy Beans is the solution you’ve been looking for! Inside Stretchy Beans: Nutritious, Economical Meals the Easy Way, you’ll discover:

  • How to cook healthy, affordable beans with amazing flavors
  • How to make one pot of beans each week and turn it into 3+ delicious meals the whole family loves—without feeling like you’re eating the same thing every night
  • How to spend less time in the kitchen, while still getting dinner on the table every night
  • Weekly Stretchy Beans meal plans that you can adapt to fit your family
  • And much, much more!

Stretchy Beans: Nutritious, Economical Meals the Easy Way is packed full of affordable, easy-to-follow, healthy recipes for the whole family. If you’re looking for a way to feed your family a delicious, real food diet, then this book is for you.

Get Stretchy Beans today and learn how to change the way you cook dinners—for good!

 

More Recipes You Might Enjoy:

 

What’s your favorite way to cook baked beans? Leave a comment below!

Pin It on Pinterest