Old Fashioned Baked Beans Recipe
It’s getting to be the picnic time of year and that means it’s time for some fun, old fashioned recipes that would be perfect to take to your potluck or family picnic!
This Old Fashioned Baked Beans recipe is perfect for those kinds of occasions. It’s delicious, you can make it in the slow cooker, and it’s got that great, smokey classic baked beans flavor. Are you drooling yet?
Another reason this recipe is great is because the ingredients are inexpensive. You can bring this delicious, very flavorful meal to a family potluck that you know everyone will enjoy, but you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on the ingredients. I love it!
This recipe takes a bit of prep (soaking the beans), so make sure you start it the night before if you plan on taking it somewhere on a certain date. Enjoy!
Old Fashioned Baked Beans Recipe
What You Need:
- 1 pound Dried Beans (usually anything you have on hand can work, I used Pinto this time!)
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 2 cups Water
- 1 small Onion, diced
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Molasses
- 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- Bacon or Side Pork, cooked (optional)
You will need to start this recipe the night before. The evening before you plan on making your baked beans, take the beans and place them in water and let them soak for at least 12 hours. Drain and rinse.
When you are ready to make your beans, combine all ingredients in the slow cooker. Let the entire mixture cook on high for 6 to 8 hours or until the beans are nice and tender. If your beans soak up too much water you may need to add a bit more so they stay saucy.
As I mentioned above, these beans are great for the family picnics and potlucks! Make sure to bookmark or pin the recipe so you can share it with friends when they ask! 🙂
What is your favorite picnic style recipe to make?
I often get asked to bring baked beans to picnics. I use maple syrup instead of molasses because I always have it(we make it). Another thing I get requests for is potato salad. I don’t have any special recipe and there are no fancy ingredients..I guess people just like it. It amazes me how people seem to want to eat good,simple and real food..but won’t fix them for themselves. It makes no sense to me!
I’d like your potato salad recipe!
Just found your website, LOVE IT 🙂
Do you add the water the beans soaked in to the crock pot? Or drain the beans?
Drain and rinse before placing in the slow cooker.
Thanks! Glad I asked. 🙂 Recipe sounds delicious. I’ll be sure to try it!
The 2 cups water.. is it added to the slow cooker or is it the soaking water? I’m assuming it is added to the cooker as you mentioned “more water may be added if not saucy enough”. Been looking for a great slow cooker recipe for beans! Thanks!
It’s added to the slow cooker 🙂
It would be much easier to make this in the pressure cooker and will be done in about 20 minutes!
Yeah, but you’d be giving up hours of flavor immersion in lieu of expedient bean-cooking, have to decide on taste vs haste
I am going to make these tomorrow, I have the beans soaking now…I have never added baking soda so I am interested in seeing how these turn out. Sounds very tasty!
These look so tasty! Love the flavors too. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday! 🙂
Can this recipe be double?
Totally pinned this as I”ve never made them from scratch like this! YUM!
I would love for you to share this with my Recipes, Crafts, Tips and Tricks Facebook group.
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Can you freeze the cooked beans
Love a good slow cooker recipe, and beans are such a great way to add a bit of protein and fill up without too much work or cost. 🙂
This sounds sooooo good! Just perfect for a summer barbecue! 🙂
I am loving this recipe, not only does it look amazing but it’s just in time for Memorial Day.
Thanks for joining the DI & DI Link Party.
I was just thinking recently that I would like to make baked beans in the slow cooker. I’m so glad that I found your recipe. Thank you. I’ve got to try this.
I am an 81 year old widower and have misplaced my wifes’ sisters receipe hers was the best . I barely can eat canned baked beans because I remember how my sisterinlaw’s beans were. Even her 3 daughters cannot remember how she made them.
So I’m hoping that your baked beans will replace my yearning for good baked beans. Thank you
Phil
Love baked beans. I have a similar recipe. Now you have me craving them. 🙂
Oh, my I LOVE these. The only thing that can make them better is green and red peppers.
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings
Pam
is it possible to do this recipe without a slow cooker ?
Yes, you can cook them low and slow on the stove top. A dutch oven or something that holds the heat well would be best.
Do you stir them in the slow cooker
Or should there be sauce at the top
Not sure how they should look
Sorry lol
Yes, I stir them occasionally while they are cooking.
thanks for your answer,I will try it .
Can you can them
Here’s our canning recipe for a similar version: Pork & Beans
Can you double this recipe?
Yes, of course! 🙂
I’m just curious. A slow cooker on high for 8 hours. I’m nervous that will make the beans mushy?
It shouldn’t make them mushy until they get smushed under a spoon 🙂
How long is shelf life in fridge? I’d love to cook in a batch lol
I usually store leftovers for no more than 5-7 days in the fridge.
Is the baking soda added to the soaking or in the crockpot?
All of the ingredients are to go in the crock pot. I don’t add anything to my beans when soaking.
Thank you so much! I’m really looking forward to trying these out
I have made baked beans in the past and I always par boiled the beans after soaking them all night ! This recipe doesn’t call for that, should I not par boil them ? Thank you
Hello I need to know do I cook the bacon before or put it in raw ?
This recipe is just like my grandmother’s Pennsylvania Dutch beans. So glad you posted it. Of course she didn’t have a crock pot. But if she had one she’d have definitely used it. These beans are not overly sweet. When I make them I have to make a double batch cause everyone wants to take some home.