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Grandma Browns Baked Beans Recipe
Aldrick Winters

Grandma Browns Baked Beans Recipe

Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans are slow-cooked, sweet, and savory with tender beans in a rich molasses sauce. The texture is thick and comforting, making it a perfect side dish for barbecues, family dinners, or holiday gatherings. This homemade version captures the nostalgic flavor of the classic pantry favorite.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280
Ingredients Equipment Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups cooked navy beans – drained (or 2 cans, rinsed)
  • ½ cup molasses
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar – packed
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 small onion – finely chopped
  • 4 slices bacon – chopped
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup water

Equipment

  • Large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven
  • Mixing bowl
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C) and lightly grease a Dutch oven or baking dish.
  2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until it becomes lightly crisp and releases its fat.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the bacon and sauté for 3–4 minutes until the onion turns soft and translucent.
  4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together molasses, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, and water until the sauce looks smooth.
  5. Place the cooked navy beans in the Dutch oven and stir in the bacon-onion mixture.
  6. Pour the prepared sauce over the beans and gently stir until everything is evenly coated.
  7. Cover and bake for about 1½ to 2 hours, stirring once halfway through, until the sauce thickens and the beans look glossy.
  8. Remove from the oven and let the beans rest for 10 minutes so the sauce settles and becomes richer.

Video

Notes

  • For deeper flavor, cook the beans a day ahead and reheat them before serving.
  • If the sauce becomes too thick during baking, stir in a few tablespoons of
  • water.
  • For a smoky variation, add a pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of liquid
  • smoke.