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A quintessential New England comfort food, these beans are slow-cooked for hours with salt pork, molasses, and brown sugar. The result is a deeply flavorful, sweet, and savory dish with an incredibly tender texture, perfect for any barbecue, potluck, or cozy family dinner.
For 8 servings
Soak the Beans (Overnight)
Preheat Oven and Prepare Ingredients (10 minutes)
Layer Ingredients in Pot (5 minutes)
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A quintessential New England comfort food, these beans are slow-cooked for hours with salt pork, molasses, and brown sugar. The result is a deeply flavorful, sweet, and savory dish with an incredibly tender texture, perfect for any barbecue, potluck, or cozy family dinner.
This new_england recipe takes 440 minutes to prepare and yields 8 servings. At 492.3 calories per serving with 14.7g of protein, it's a beginner-friendly recipe perfect for side or lunch or dinner.
Prepare the Sauce (5 minutes)
Combine and Begin Baking (6 hours)
Uncover and Finish Baking (1 hour)
Rest and Serve
Omit the salt pork. To replicate the smoky flavor, add 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika and 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke to the sauce. Use a rich vegetable broth instead of water.
For a classic New England twist, replace half of the molasses and brown sugar with an equal amount of pure maple syrup. This adds a distinct, rich sweetness.
Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or one finely minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce to the sauce mixture for a smoky heat.
If you can't find salt pork, thick-cut smoked bacon is a good substitute. It will lend a smokier flavor to the final dish.
Navy beans are packed with dietary fiber, which is essential for digestive health, promoting regular bowel movements, and helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Beans are a great source of plant-based protein, which is crucial for building and repairing tissues, supporting muscle mass, and keeping you feeling full and satisfied.
This dish offers important minerals like iron, which is vital for oxygen transport in the blood; magnesium, for muscle and nerve function; and folate, which supports cell growth.
Boston Baked Beans can be part of a balanced diet. They are an excellent source of fiber and plant-based protein from the navy beans. However, this traditional recipe is also high in sugar (from molasses and brown sugar) and sodium and fat (from the salt pork), so it's best enjoyed in moderation as a comfort food.
A one-cup serving of this Boston Baked Beans recipe contains approximately 440-480 calories. The exact number can vary based on the fat content of the salt pork and the specific brands of ingredients used.
Yes, absolutely. After soaking the beans, layer all ingredients in the slow cooker as directed. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours, until the beans are tender. For the last hour, you can remove the lid to help the sauce thicken.
This can happen for a few reasons. The most common culprits are old beans (dried beans lose their ability to soften over time) or using hard water, which can prevent the beans from becoming tender. Ensure you are using beans that are less than a year old.
Salt pork is cured in salt, resulting in a very salty, fatty cut that is not smoked. Bacon is typically cured in a salt and sugar mixture and then smoked. Using bacon will give the beans a distinctly smoky flavor, while salt pork provides a cleaner, savory pork flavor.
Store leftover baked beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They also freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if they seem too thick.