Molasses Baked Beans
Homemade molasses baked beans are a tradition in Nova Scotia, and this recipe yields perfect results every time. With their rich, deep flavor of molasses and touch of sweetness from brown sugar, I make baked beans year-round. They are wonderful as a stick-to-your-ribs hot meal in the winter and especially good in the summer as a side with grilled chicken or ribs.
Start by soaking dried navy beans, which helps soften them and reduces the cooking time. After soaking, cook the beans with a bit of baking soda to tenderize them further. Once the beans are cooked, they’re drained and mixed with the other ingredients.
The slow baking process is where the real magic happens. I don’t know what kind of sorcery it is, but baking the beans at a low temperature for eight hours in a sweet, smoky sauce, turns these tiny pantry staples into a freakin’ flavor bomb. I like to bake the beans overnight, so when I wake up, I’m instantly hit with the smell of comfort and home.
For an even truer taste of the East Coast, try serving your beans on the side of these lobster cakes or this Nova Scotia lobster roll. However you serve them, I hope you love them!
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Ingredients For Molasses Baked Beans
Ingredient Notes
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds a slight tanginess that balances the sweetness of the molasses and brown sugar.
- Bacon: Provides a smoky, savory depth, while the bacon fat adds richness.
- Baking Soda: Helps to soften the beans during cooking.
- Brown Sugar: Contributes to the sweetness and adds a rich caramel flavor.
- Dried Navy Beans: The base of the dish, these beans are known for their creamy texture and ability to absorb flavors well during the slow baking process.
- Ground Mustard: Adds a mild, tangy spice.
- Ketchup: The backbone of the sauce which all the other layers of flavor are built upon.
- Molasses: The key ingredient! Feel free to experiment with different types of molasses. Blackstrap molasses will give a more robust, slightly bitter flavor, while regular molasses will be sweeter and lighter.
- Onion: Adds sweetness and a bit of texture.
It’s important to note that when making substitutions in recipes, the texture and flavor may be slightly different. However, these substitutes are the best options for changing the original recipe.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Substitute with white vinegar or lemon juice.
- Bacon: Use turkey bacon or smoked sausage or omit for a vegetarian version. You can also use salt pork scraps, but they won’t have a smoky flavor.
- Baking Soda: If you don’t have baking soda, you can skip it, but be prepared for a longer cooking time to achieve the same creamy tenderness.
- Black Pepper: Substitute with white pepper for a milder flavor, or use cayenne pepper for more heat.
- Brown Sugar: Replace with honey or maple syrup.
- Dried Navy Beans: Dried yellow-eyed beans, white cannellini beans (aka white kidney beans), or great northern beans can be an alternative.
- Ground Mustard: Substitute with Dijon mustard or yellow mustard.
- Ketchup: Try tomato paste mixed with sugar and vinegar or barbecue sauce.
- Molasses: Replace with honey or maple syrup.
- Onion: Use shallots, leeks, or even onion powder if fresh onions are unavailable.
Recipe Variations
Try any of the following for a twist on this molasses baked beans recipe:
- Apple Chunks: Stir in small apple chunks with the bacon and onion.
- BBQ Sauce: Mix a half cup of your favorite barbecue sauce.
- Beer: Replace some of the reserved bean cooking liquid with beer.
- Bell Peppers: Stir in diced bell peppers for added color.
- Caramelized Onions: Caramelize the onions before adding them to the beans for a sweeter, more complex flavor.
- Chili Peppers: Stir in diced jalapeños or chipotle peppers.
- Different Meats: Try sausage, ham, or leftover pulled pork instead of bacon.
- Fresh Herbs: Stir in chopped herbs like thyme or rosemary after baking.
- Garlic: Add a few minced garlic cloves.
- Green Onions: Garnish with chopped green onions or chives for a fresh, bright finish.
- Ham Hock: Replace the bacon with a ham hock for a different, hearty flavor.
- Liquid Smoke: Add a teaspoon of liquid smoke, especially if your bacon is not overly smoky.
- Smoked Paprika: Try a teaspoon of smoked paprika.
- Spices: Add a pinch of cloves, cinnamon, or allspice for a warm flavor note.
- Tomato Paste: Add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste for a richer base.
- Worcestershire Sauce: A tablespoon or two of Worcestershire sauce adds savory, umami depth.
Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of this post, or scroll to the bottom to see the PRINTABLE recipe card with ingredient measurements and complete instructions.
How To Make Molasses Baked Beans
STEP 1: Place the dried beans in a Dutch oven. Cover with cold water and soak for eight hours or overnight.
STEP 2: Drain and rinse the beans. Place them back in the Dutch oven and cover with fresh, cold water. Bring the beans to a light boil and cook for 30 minutes or until tender.
STEP 3: Drain the cooked beans into a colander fitted over a large bowl or another vessel to catch the liquid. Set aside.
STEP 4: Give the Dutch oven a quick wash, then add the ketchup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ground dry mustard, and pepper.
STEP 5: Stir the sauce ingredients together until smooth.
STEP 6: Add the onion, bacon, reserved bean liquid, and cooked beans to the pot.
STEP 7: Stir well to combine.
STEP 8: Place the lid on the Dutch oven and transfer the pot to the preheated oven. Bake the beans for 8 hours. Remove the beans from the oven, remove the lid, stir, and serve.
Expert Tips
1. I like to use thick-cut, double-smoked bacon from my local butcher. The smokier, the better!
2. When you add the baking soda to the beans, the bean liquid may foam up and over the edges of the pot. Blow gently on the foam or lift the pot away from the burner to help it settle down.
3. I like to soak my dried beans in the morning and boil them in the evening. I then mix them with the remaining ingredients and bake them overnight. I love the scent wafting through the house while we sleep!
Recipe Notes
- When boiling the beans, keep the heat at a low bubble to prevent them from breaking apart. Rapid boiling can cause the beans to become mushy and may affect the texture of the final dish.
- If your beans are watery when you take them out of the oven after baking, don’t worry! They will thicken as they cool. If your beans don’t thicken, preheat the oven to 250ºF (120ºC), place the pot back in the oven uncovered, and bake for up to 3 hours.
- On the flip side, if your beans seem dry after baking, try stirring them first. Sometimes, the top can look dry, but the beans are perfect underneath. If you still find your beans are dry, stir in a splash of water to loosen them.
Storage
- Leftover baked beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can reheat them gently on the stove over low-medium heat or in the microwave. If needed, add a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
- For longer storage, freeze the beans in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Avoid refreezing to maintain the best texture and flavor.
More Nova Scotia-Inspired Recipes
Did you make these molasses baked beans? Please rate the recipe and tell me how it went in the comments below. Also, stay in touch with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to see more delicious food and recipes!
Printable Recipe Card
Molasses Baked Beans
Special Equipment
- 4 to 6 quart (litre) cast iron Dutch oven with lid
- Colander
- Measuring cups and spoons or digital kitchen scale
- Sharp knife
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried white navy beans
- 6 cups cold water
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar, tightly packed
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 1 medium onion, ends trimmed, peeled, chopped
- 6 to 8 strips bacon, cut into ½ inch (1 ¼ cm) pieces
Instructions
Soak The Dried Beans (8 hours)
- Place the dried navy beans in a 4-quart (4 L) Dutch oven. Cover the beans with cold water and let them soak for eight hours or overnight.
Rinse & Cook The Beans (45 minutes)
- Drain and rinse the beans with cool water. Place the drained beans back in the Dutch oven and cover them with 6 cups (1 ½ L) of fresh cold water. Bring the beans to a light boil over medium-high heat. Once bubbling, add the baking soda. Reduce the heat, place the lid on the pot, and simmer the beans for 30 minutes or until tender.
Bake The Beans (8 hours)
- Preheat the oven to 250ºF (120ºC).
- Drain the cooked beans into a colander fitted over a large bowl or another vessel to catch the liquid. Once drained, you should have about 3 ½ cups (875 ml) of cooking liquid (if you don't have 3 ½ cups, top it up with water until you do). Rinse the cooked beans with cool water and drain. Set the cooking liquid and the drained beans aside.
- Give the Dutch oven a quick wash to remove any cooked on bean scum. Add the ketchup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, ground dry mustard, and pepper to the pot. Stir together until smooth.
- Add the chopped onion and bacon to the pot. Add the 3 ½ cups of reserved bean liquid and the cooked beans. Stir well to combine.
- Place the lid on the Dutch oven and transfer the pot to the preheated oven. Bake the beans for 8 hours (I usually bake mine overnight). Remove the baked beans from the oven, remove the lid, stir, and serve.
Recipe Notes
- When boiling the beans, keep the heat at a low bubble to prevent them from breaking apart. Rapid boiling can cause the beans to become mushy and may affect the texture of the final dish.
- If your beans are watery when you take them out of the oven after baking, don’t worry! They will thicken as they cool. If your beans don’t thicken, preheat the oven to 250ºF (120ºC), place the pot back in the oven uncovered, and bake for up to 3 hours.
- On the flip side, if your beans seem dry after baking, try stirring them first. Sometimes, the top can look dry, but the beans are perfect underneath. If you still find your beans are dry, stir in a splash of water to loosen them.
Storage
- Leftover baked beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can reheat them gently on the stove over low-medium heat or in the microwave. If needed, add a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
- For longer storage, freeze the beans in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Avoid refreezing to maintain the best texture and flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and is provided as a courtesy. For precise nutritional data, please calculate it independently using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Kelly Neil is a recipe developer, food photographer, and lifelong Nova Scotian building a sense of home and identity through recipes. She lives in her hometown of Dartmouth with her partner, Chris, their daughter, Elodie, and their little dog, Skipper.
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