Boston Baked Beans

Great Northern Beans slow-cook with bacon and molasses in this thick, rich, authentic Boston Baked Beans recipe.

The development of this recipe was sponsored by Hurst's Beans. As always, all opinions are my own.

When I first published my Southern Style Baked Beans I got an email from a reader that read, “SO DISAPPOINTING! I thought this would be a REAL recipe for baked beans! GARRRGGH!!” Or something like that.

And even though I have received hundreds of compliments on the same recipe, that one email has always stuck with me.

I guess his point was that I use canned pork n’ beans in that recipe instead of making the beans from scratch.

Usually I just channel my inner Elsa and conceal, don’t feel when I get nasty email but I don’t like anyone thinking I can’t cook something.

I CAN TOO!!

Just because I don’t start from scratch on that recipe doesn’t mean I can’t.

OH, YES I CAN!!

So, guess what I did this weekend? I made real deal, from scratch, homemade Boston baked beans! And, boy oh boy, was it an experience!

Those suckers required some lovin’ over many, many hours but in the end it was worth it!

The beans cook uncovered in a thin cooking liquid with molasses, bacon and onions. The mixture reduces to a thick, savory, slightly sweet sauce. This is what it looks like when you're assembling everything for the oven...

And really, I love having recipes like this to make on those days when it’s cold and wet outside and I’ve got 900 loads of laundry to do. Something that needs tending to is the best kind of recipe to make when you’re keeping time at home!

If you can’t find Hurst’s Great Northern Beans in your local grocery store, ask for them! My grocery store now carries all sorts of products they didn’t have before simply because I asked for them.

Just ask the cashier who to talk to to request a product and s/he will point you in the right direction. My store has a list at the Customer Service desk where they notate products their customers' request.

Try these Three Meat Crock Pot Cowboy Beans with one of these awesome main dishes:

• Crock Pot Pulled Pork –  Perfectly seasoned, tender, juicy pulled pork cooked low and slow in a slow cooker. 
• Sticky Chicken – Marinated slow-roasted chicken pieces braised in a slightly sweet, tangy sauce.
• Fall-Off-The-Bone Baby Back Ribs – Easy, oven-baked ribs cooked low and slow on a bed of onions. 
• Perfect Pork Tenderloin – A no-fail recipe for perfectly cooked marinated pork tenderloin with a simple glaze. 
• Barbequed Steaks – Thinly sliced grilled steaks marinated then basted in a homemade barbeque sauce. 

Boston Baked Beans

Yield: 16-18 Servings

Author: Mandy Rivers | South Your Mouth

prep time: 5 Mcook time: 7 hourtotal time: 7 H & 5 M

Great Northern Beans slow-cook with bacon and molasses in this thick, rich, authentic Boston Baked Beans recipe.

ingredients:

• 1 lb. Hurst’s Great Northern Beans (with Ham Flavor)
• 7 cups water
• 1 very large white onion, diced
• 1 pound thick-cut bacon, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup ketchup (see note)
• 2 tablespoons mustard powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons black pepper

instructions:

How to cook Boston Baked Beans

1. Combine dried beans (with seasoning packet) and water in a large pot and stir. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat (not high - we want these to cook gently) then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours.
2. Drain beans, RESERVING LIQUID. Pour liquid into a 2-cup measuring pitcher. You should have right at 2 cups of liquid. If not, add water to make 2 cups. If you have more than 2 cups, just discard the extra.
3. Combine 2 cups bean liquid, molasses and remaining ingredients then stir well. Set aside.
4. Using a 2-quart crock, bean pot or baking dish (a deep, bowl-shaped vessel is best), layer onion, bacon and drained beans. Pour molasses mixture evenly over beans.
5. Cover with a tight-fitting lid or aluminum foil and bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours. Uncover beans, stir, then continue baking, uncovered for 3 hours, stirring occasionally to ensure the top doesn’t brown too much or dry out. Yes, this seems like a ridiculously long time to bake the beans but it takes this long for the beans to get tender and for that liquid to turn into Boston-baked magic.
6. Remove beans from oven, cover and let sit until sauce thickens (if it’s not thickened already).

NOTES:

Authentic Boston Baked Beans don’t have ketchup in them but I wanted a touch of acid in here to balance the creamy beans and sweet molasses. If it goes against your religion to put ketchup in Boston Baked Beans, substitute with additional molasses.
You don’t want to make this in a shallow dish as the sauce will evaporate rather than cook into the beans. If you don’t have any other choice, cook the beans covered for 3 hours (vs 2) then cook uncovered for 2 hours (vs 3).
I really don't know if these will work in a crock pot since they need to cook uncovered (I think the sauce will stay thin in a slow cooker). If you try it and are successful, comment below to let us know!
If you can’t find Hurst’s Great Northern Beans in your market, please ask your grocer for them. Until then, you can order them online!

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