Active cook time: 30 minutes
Inactive cook time: 6-8 hours

Baked beans are an all day labor of love that you do not want to rush. You need time, not only to fully cook your beans, but to develop flavors. The process is not difficult – it is lengthy. I promise, you will not be disappointed if you spend the time to cook them all day in your oven.

I’ve been searching the internet high and low for recipes for baked beans. To my surprise, I kept finding recipe after recipe that called for cans of premade pork and beans, and premade BBQ sauce. I wanted none of those recipes. Finally, I discovered Alton Brown’s recipe for Baked Beans, tweaked it a little, and now I offer it to you!

Ingredients:
1 pound dried small white beans (I used cannellini beans)
1 pound bacon, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 jalapenos chopped (remove the seeds and ribs if you don’t want your beans spicy)
8 oz tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup honey
Water
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons sea salt

Directions

Heat oven to 250 degrees F.

First, soak your beans. Rinse beans in a colander. Add 1 tablespoon of salt per each pound of beans. Cover with water that extends 2 inches above the beans. Cover and soak for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Drain and set aside.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Place a cast iron pot with a lid, or an oven safe pot, over medium heat on the stove. Add chopped bacon and cook until browned. Add in onions and jalapenos. Cook 4-5 minutes, or until the onion begin to soften. Add in remaining ingredients, plus two cups of water, and bring to a low boil. Cover and place in your pre-heated oven.

Cook in the oven for 6 to 8 hours, or until the beans are tender.

Check about every 2 hours to see if you need to add more water. Add 1-2 cups HOT water at a time, then stir gently and return to the oven.

I received awesome reviews of these beans! I hope you do too!

Enjoy!
-Amelia