Homemade Molasses Baked Beans With Bacon

Homemade molasses baked beans with bacon is a favourite year-round comfort food recipe! Soak dried beans in the morning, boil in the evening, and bake with some basic pantry ingredients overnight.

This post was first published on October 4, 2017, and was last updated April 6, 2020.

Homemade molasses baked beans with bacon are equally amazing in the winter with warm cheese tea biscuits, or in the summer alongside barbequed ribs and grilled corn (if you can bear to turn your oven on).

Simply soak dried beans in the morning, give them a quick boil in the evening, and then slow-bake them in a cast iron Dutch oven with basic pantry staples overnight. My parents love these baked beans so much they ask me to make them at least once a month!

Ingredients You Need To Make Homemade Molasses Baked Beans:

• 1 pound (454g) dried navy beans
• water
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 6 strips of bacon, diced

How To Make This Recipe Step-By-Step:

• Step 1 – In the morning, place dried navy beans in a large bowl and cover them with cold water. Let them soak for 8 hours.
• Step 2 – In the evening, drain and rinse the beans. Place them in a medium-large heavy-bottomed pot with 6 cups of cold water and bring them to a boil (be sure to use a large pot because when you add the baking soda the bean water will become frothy and foamy).
• Step 3 – Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to the boiling beans. Place the cover on the pot, reduce the heat, and simmer the beans until they are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Step 4 – Preheat the oven to 250ºF. 
• Step 5 – Drain the boiled beans but keep 3 1/2 cups of the bean cooking liquid. Set aside.
• Step 6 – Mix ketchup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, dry mustard, black pepper, chopped onion, and diced bacon in a Dutch oven that has an oven-safe lid.
• Step 7 – Add the drained cooked beans, plus the reserved bean liquid to the Dutch oven. Give everything a good stir, place the lid on the pot, and bake in the oven for 8 hours at 250ºF / 130ºC.
• Step 8 – Eat!

Which Beans Are Best To Make Homemade Molasses Baked Beans?

For years I made this recipe with yellow eye beans, and they’re great, however, I now prefer white navy beans for baked beans. I find navy beans have a creamier texture after baking which I prefer.

Adding Bacon To Baked Beans

I like smoked, or even double-smoked bacon in my molasses baked beans, however, salt pork is a good substitute. If using salt pork, you may want to add a teaspoon or two of liquid smoke before baking. 

I use raw bacon and I mix it straight into the pot with the other ingredients. If you want, you could lightly cook the bacon and onion together before mixing everything, however, it’s not necessary.

Why Do You Add Baking Soda To Beans?

The main reason to add baking soda to beans while they’re cooking is to help soften them faster during the cooking process. I have also heard baking soda will help reduce gas after eating! That’s a good reason too.

Making Beans In The Slow Cooker

I made this recipe for baked beans in my crock pot once, and they were ok, however, in the morning the beans were quite watery. I had to cook them a few hours longer than the oven-baked version.

Make This Recipe Vegan

Making vegetarian or vegan baked beans is so easy! Just substitute 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke for the bacon and continue to follow the recipe and cooking times exactly as written.

How To Thicken Baked Beans If They’re Too Watery

If your beans are watery when you take them out of the oven after baking don’t fret! They will thicken as they cool. If for some reason your beans don’t thicken, preheat the oven to 250ºF, place the pot back in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 1 hour.

What’s A Good Substitute For Molasses In Baked Beans?

I haven’t tried it, however, I think maple syrup could be a safe bet to swap for molasses at a 1:1 ratio. Because maple syrup is less thick than molasses, you may need to bake your beans a bit longer. 

Other sweetener options I would try if I didn’t have molasses or maple syrup:

• Double the brown sugar.
• A mix of brown sugar and applesauce.

How Can You Serve Baked Beans?

• Have them for breakfast with fried eggs, fish cakes, green tomato chow, and toasted brown bread.
• Serve them alongside almost any meat. They’re particularly good with pork ribs, hot dogs, pulled pork, ham, or grilled chicken. 
• Dollop them on a plate alongside potato salad and cornbread.
• As a side with a cheeseburger.
• As a meal with a side green salad or buttered toast.

Can You Freeze Baked Beans?

Homemade baked beans freeze well! Once they are cool, store them in airtight containers with tight fitting lids. They will keep in the freezer for up to three months.

Looking For More Comfort Food Recipes? Try:

Breakfast Risotto With Bacon And Thyme

Butter Chicken Skillet Meatloaf

Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

Homemade Turkey Pot Pie

Did you make this recipe? If yes, please let me know how it worked out for you! Leave a comment below, or share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #kellyneil.