Sugar-Free Boston Baked Beans

Dive into a healthier twist on a classic with these Sugar-Free Boston Baked Beans! Bursting with rich, smoky flavors, this recipe relies on naturally bold ingredients like smoked paprika, liquid smoke, and a touch of tomato paste to create a satisfying sauce—no sugar needed. Perfectly tender navy beans are slow-cooked alongside onion, garlic powder, and a hint of apple cider vinegar, delivering a tangy, savory balance in every bite. This hearty, all-natural dish is a guilt-free comfort food that’s ideal as a side for barbecues or a light main course. Easy to prepare and packed with wholesome flavor, these baked beans will be your go-to for crowd-pleasing meals without the added sugar!

Nutriscore Rating: 81/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:300 mins

Total Time:320 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried navy beans
• 6 cups water
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 bay leaf

Directions

Step 1

Rinse and sort the dried navy beans, removing any debris or damaged beans.

Step 2

In a large pot, place the beans and cover with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour.

Step 3

Drain and rinse the soaked beans, then return them to the pot. Add 6 cups of fresh water and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Step 4

In a slow cooker, combine the chopped onion, smoked paprika, dry mustard, apple cider vinegar, tomato paste, liquid smoke, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and bay leaf.

Step 5

Add the simmering beans along with the cooking water to the slow cooker with the sauce mixture. Stir well to combine.

Step 6

Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 5 hours, or until the beans are tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir occasionally and add a bit more water if necessary to prevent the beans from drying out.

Step 7

Discard the bay leaf before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.

Step 8

Serve hot as a side dish or a light main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2146.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1678.9

Total Fat 8.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 1.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2478.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 306.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 77.1g	0%
Total Sugars 22.7g
Protein 107.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 841.4mg	0%
Iron 27.2mg	0%
Potassium 7303.0mg	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: 4.5%

Protein: 24.7%

Carbs: 70.8%