Heart-Healthy Classic Baked Beans

Savor the comfort of a timeless dish with a nutritious twist in this Heart-Healthy Classic Baked Beans recipe. Packed with tender navy beans simmered in a rich, smoky tomato-based sauce, this dish swaps traditional high-sodium and sugary ingredients for wholesome alternatives like low-sodium vegetable broth, molasses, and apple cider vinegar. Enhanced with aromatic garlic, sweet onions, and a dash of smoked paprika, these baked beans offer layers of flavor in every bite. Slow-cooked to perfection in the oven, the beans achieve a luscious, thick sauce without sacrificing nutrition. Perfect as a side dish for summer barbecues or a satisfying meatless main, this recipe proves you don't have to compromise on taste to enjoy a heart-healthy meal.

Nutriscore Rating: 75/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:180 mins

Total Time:195 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup Dry navy beans
• 4 cups Water
• 1 cup Unsweetened tomato sauce
• 1 cup Low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 large Yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Molasses
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground black pepper
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 tablespoon Olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Rinse and sort the dry navy beans, discarding any debris. Place them in a large bowl, cover with three cups of water, and allow to soak overnight.

Step 2

Drain and rinse the beans. In a large pot, combine the soaked beans and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about 45 minutes until beans are just tender. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).

Step 4

In a large ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook until they are soft and translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.

Step 5

Stir in minced garlic, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 6

Add tomato sauce, vegetable broth, apple cider vinegar, molasses, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, ground black pepper, and the bay leaf. Stir well to combine.

Step 7

Add the pre-cooked beans to the skillet, stir to fully coat the beans with the sauce.

Step 8

Cover the skillet or Dutch oven with a lid or aluminum foil and transfer it to the preheated oven.

Step 9

Bake for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, then remove the lid or foil.

Step 10

Continue baking the beans uncovered for 30 more minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking.

Step 11

Remove from oven, discard bay leaf, and let cool slightly before serving.

Step 12

Enjoy your heart-healthy classic baked beans as a delicious side or main dish!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1851.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	922.6

Total Fat 20.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 3.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 582.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 154.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 29.3g	0%
Total Sugars 48.4g
Protein 37.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 455.0mg	0%
Iron 12.6mg	0%
Potassium 3843.4mg	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: 19.3%

Protein: 15.8%

Carbs: 64.9%