Slow Baked Beans With Molasses and Bacon

Slow baked beans
Diana Rattray
  • 5 hrs 15 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins,
  • Cook: 5 hrs
  • Yield: Serves 6 to 8
Ratings (17)

By Diana Rattray

Updated 05/01/18

Stir the beans occasionally, and check for tenderness. There are many factors which could make beans tender in more or less time, so check periodically after a few hours. These beans are delicious with steak or hot dogs or make them part of your picnic or cookout. Great for tailgating, too!

What You'll Need

  • 1 pound dried navy beans
  • 4 thick slices bacon, diced, or about 4 to 5 ounces
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped onion
  • 4 tablespoons molasses
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 scant teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

How to Make It

  1. Rinse the navy beans under cold running water. Pick out any malformed beans and any small stones you might find.
  2. Cover the beans with 8 cups of water; let soak overnight. Bring the beans to a boil; remove from heat. Using a colander over a bowl, drain liquids into the bowl. Set aside.
  3. Heat oven to 325 F.
  4. Layer the beans, onion, and diced bacon in 3 or 4 layers in a 3- to 4-quart covered casserole or bean pot.
  1. In a small bowl or large measuring cup, measure 1 cup of the hot cooking liquid. Add the molasses, brown sugar, salt, mustard, and pepper. Stir to blend.
  2. Pour the liquid and molasses mixture over the beans. Add enough of the reserved bean cooking liquid to almost cover the beans.
  3. Cover and bake the beans for about 4 to 5 hours, or until tender, stirring occasionally and adding more liquid, as needed. If the beans are runny, remove the lid and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes.

 

Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 274
Total Fat 1 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Unsaturated Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 2 mg
Sodium 338 mg
Carbohydrates 54 g
Dietary Fiber 11 g
Protein 13 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)