Deliciously Healthy Baked Beans From Scratch

Baked beans are a great side dish to almost any meal, but getting them from a can can be unhealthy, full of preservatives and lacking in real flavor. Making your own baked beans from scratch is not only healthier, but it also tastes a lot better! Plus, you can customize the recipe to your own tastes. Here's how to make deliciously healthy baked beans from scratch.

Gather Your Ingredients

The basic ingredients for this recipe are navy beans, bacon, onion, garlic, brown sugar, maple syrup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper and salt. You can also add other ingredients, such as green pepper, jalapeño pepper, red pepper flakes, liquid smoke or cayenne pepper, to give the beans more of a kick. Once you have all your ingredients ready, you can start cooking.

Soak The Beans

The first step in making your healthy baked beans is to soak the navy beans. Start by washing the beans and removing any debris or stones. Then, place them in a large bowl and cover them with cold water. Let the beans soak for at least 8 hours, or overnight if possible. This will help soften the beans, making them easier to cook.

Cook The Bacon

Next, you'll need to cook the bacon. Place the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook until it is crispy. Once it is cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside. Reserve the bacon fat to use later in the recipe.

Cook The Onions And Garlic

Once the bacon is cooked, add the onions and garlic to the skillet with the bacon fat. Cook the onions and garlic until they are softened, about 5 minutes. Then, add the cooked bacon back to the skillet and mix everything together.

Add The Remaining Ingredients

Once the onions and garlic are cooked, add the navy beans, brown sugar, maple syrup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper and salt. Stir everything together so that everything is evenly combined.

Bake The Beans

Place the skillet in a preheated oven at 350°F and bake the beans for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Serve the beans warm with your favorite side dishes or as a main dish. Enjoy!