Grammy Callahan's Baked Beans

Dive into the rich, nostalgic flavors of Grammy Callahan's Baked Beans, a time-honored family recipe that brings hearty comfort to every gathering. Made with tender navy beans simmered to perfection and baked in a sweet and tangy sauce of molasses, brown sugar, and ketchup, this dish is elevated by the smoky richness of crumbled bacon and sautéed onions. A dash of Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar adds a subtle tang, while a low-and-slow bake ensures a thick, flavorful sauce that clings to each bean. Perfect as a standout side dish for barbecues, potlucks, or simply served with warm cornbread, these homemade baked beans will transport you to classic comfort food bliss. Plus, they're even better the next day, making them ideal for leftovers.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:300 mins

Total Time:320 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried navy beans
• 8 cups water
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup molasses
• 0.25 cup brown sugar, packed
• 0.25 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups water (for sauce)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse and sort through navy beans, discarding any debris or damaged beans.

Step 2

In a large pot, add the beans and 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover and let the beans soak for 1 hour.

Step 3

Drain and rinse the soaked beans, then return them to the pot with fresh water. Simmer over medium heat for 30-45 minutes until the beans are tender but not mushy. Drain and set aside.

Step 4

Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).

Step 5

In a skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon, crumble it into small pieces, and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings in the skillet.

Step 6

In the bacon drippings, sauté the chopped onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 7

In a large baking dish or Dutch oven, mix together the pre-cooked beans, bacon pieces, sautéed onions, molasses, brown sugar, ketchup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and 2 cups of water.

Step 8

Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil or a lid and bake in the preheated oven for 3 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more water if the beans seem dry.

Step 9

After 3 hours, uncover the dish and bake for an additional 30 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

Step 10

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. The flavors deepen as it sits, so these beans are even better the next day!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3347.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2585.6

Total Fat 30.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 7.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.0g
Cholesterol 47.5mg	0%
Sodium 5651.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 474.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 71.9g	0%
Total Sugars 194.4g
Protein 118.9g	0%

Vitamin D 7.7IU	0%
Calcium 1210.3mg	0%
Iron 33.3mg	0%
Potassium 9348.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 10.2%

Protein: 18.0%

Carbs: 71.8%