BYSo I’ve lived all over the US–I grew up in Utah, live in the South, and have lived briefly on the West and East coasts. And no matter where I go, there are baked beans and no matter where I go, everyone truly believes that baked beans originated in that particular region or in their family. I like them okay–if you’ve ever served me baked beans, I’ve probably enjoyed them. But one issue I have with them is that they are almost always way too sweet; most recipes are simmered in ketchup, which is already quite sweet, and then they have a generous amount of brown sugar as well as molasses. Usually I have a few bites and call it good.
Now…this picture may look like an advertisement for Bush’s beans, but really, it’s an illustration of my OCD tendencies. See, I’m all about getting a deal and am totally all for generic brands. However, the pinto beans were the only ones available as the store brand; the rest were Bush’s and I couldn’t have a picture of 3 cans of Bush’s beans and 1 can of Walmart beans.
Place them in an oven-safe dish or a crockpot. Place the tomatoes in the jar of your blender and pulse a few times. Add them to the beans, along with the molasses, mustard, brown sugar, and salt. You’re going to cook the bacon and then add it to the beans and tomatoes. 
And then cook it, either in the oven or the crockpot, until the flavors combine and your house smells amazing. It’s perfect for any type of festivity any time throughout the year, but there is something about a big pan of baked beans at a cookout that just fits, you know?
Not-Too-Sweet Baked Beans
Description
Tired of overly sweet baked beans? This particular recipe combines a tomato base with a few varieties of beans, and the end result is so so good!
Ingredients
- 1 15 1/2-oz. can Great Northern beans
- 1 15 1/2-oz. can navy beans
- 1 15 1/2-oz. can baby butter beans
- 1 15 1/2-oz. can pinto beans
- 2 14 1/2-oz. cans stewed tomatoes
- 1/3 c. molasses
- 2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. prepared mustard
- 1 tsp. Kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. Tabasco or other hot sauce
- 6 oz. bacon (1/2 of an average-sized package), divided
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Reserving two slices of bacon, cook the remaining bacon in a large skillet. While it’s cooking, place all beans in a colander and rinse and drain. Transfer to a large baking dish.
- Pulse the tomatoes in a blender or food processor about 5-6 times or until they are breaking down but not smooth. Pour over beans. Add molasses, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper.
- When the bacon has cooked, remove bacon from the pan and cook the onions in the bacon drippings, stirring frequently. While the onions are cooking, crumble the cooked bacon over the beans. Add onions and combine all the ingredients well. Cut remaining slices of bacon into 1″ pieces and place over the beans. Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Allow to stand for 5 minutes and then serve.
Notes
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Follow the instructions for cooking in the oven, except place the ingredients in the crock of a slow cooker instead of baking dish. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
Thanks! I've been wanting a good recipe for these. My friend makes a good recipe too, but she adds hot dogs to hers with bacon, and I'd rather not have hot dogs in mine.
How much do you taste the tomatoes? The thing I like most about the sweet baked beans is that there isn't a lot of acidity, but I love the sounds of these beans.
I too am excited to try this – I have a pressure cooker baked bean recipe that I love but it is really sweet – I know this will taste great b/c EVERYTHING I have tried on this site has been DEE-licious. Thanks!
Just in time for BBQ season! And I'm with you, I always thought they were a little too sweet. I'll have to try these!
[PS: I totally get the OCD thing!]
jmommy08–I've never tried dry beans, but if you do use them, you'd have to cook them up before you cook everything together.
Jen–Mind reading is a hobby of mine… 🙂
Can you use dry beans for this? Or should you cook them up seperately and then add them in?
Well this is timely! I have to take baked beans to a potluck tonight and got online to find a recipe!
I agree with you. Most BB are too sweet. Having hamburgers and hot dogs tonight, think I'll put on batch right now into the slow cooker!
Yum, I am excited to try this! I love baked beans and I needed a good recipe.
I like the fact that these beans are tomato based rather than ketchup based. Might gives these ago without the sugar, as hubby dislike sweet beans completely, but I think the flavor of these could stand on it's own. Thanks for the idea!