Slow Cooked Homemade Baked Beans

Slow Cooked Homemade Baked Beans are a hearty and flavorful blend of tender navy beans, smoky bacon, and a rich sweet-and-savory sauce made with molasses, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. This easy slow cooker recipe is perfect for those who love classic comfort food with a DIY twist. Infused with the deep flavors of sautéed onions, garlic, and a hint of smoked paprika, these baked beans are slow-simmered to perfection, creating a thick, velvety sauce that coats every bean. Whether served as a barbecue side dish, a potluck favorite, or a cozy main course, this recipe delivers authentic homemade taste that’s worth every minute of the slow-cooking process.

Nutriscore Rating: 74/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:360 mins

Total Time:380 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried navy beans
• 6 cups water
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups water (for cooking sauce)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the dried navy beans under cold water and remove any debris. Place the beans in a large bowl, cover with water, and soak for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Step 2

After soaking, drain and rinse the beans. Transfer them to the slow cooker and add 6 cups of fresh water.

Step 3

In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon pieces using a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of the rendered fat in the pan.

Step 4

Add the diced onion to the pan with the bacon fat and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Step 5

In a medium bowl, whisk together the molasses, ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir in 2 cups of water to form a sauce.

Step 6

Add the cooked onions, garlic, and crispy bacon to the slow cooker with the beans. Pour the sauce mixture over the beans and gently stir to combine.

Step 7

Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for 6 hours, or until the beans are tender and the sauce has thickened. Check occasionally, and if the beans seem too dry, add a bit more water.

Step 8

Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if necessary. Serve the baked beans warm as a side dish or main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2980.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2761.2

Total Fat 51.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 14.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 99mg	0%
Sodium 5058.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 449.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 75.0g	0%
Total Sugars 160.9g
Protein 138.1g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1101.8mg	0%
Iron 30.8mg	0%
Potassium 8977.6mg	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: 16.5%

Protein: 19.6%

Carbs: 63.9%