There’s nothing quite like a hearty bowl of honey baked beans. This classic dish is the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors, making it an essential side for barbecues, family gatherings, or even a cozy home-cooked meal.
Unlike store-bought baked beans, this homemade honey baked beans recipe is made from scratch with real, wholesome ingredients. The natural sweetness of honey, the rich depth of molasses, and the savory crispiness of bacon come together beautifully to create a dish that’s simply mouthwatering.
The best part? It’s incredibly easy to make! With a little patience and the right ingredients, you’ll have perfectly caramelized, thick, and flavorful baked beans that taste like they’ve been slow-cooked for hours. Let’s get started!
Why You’ll Love This Honey Baked Beans Recipe
There are plenty of reasons why these honey-baked beans should be a staple in your kitchen:
- Unbeatable Flavor: The sweetness of honey, smoky depth of bacon, and boldness of Dijon mustard create a rich, well-balanced taste.
- Great for Any Occasion: Serve it as a side dish, main meal, or even for breakfast with eggs and toast.
- Easy and Customizable: You can tweak the ingredients to suit your preferences add a little spice, swap out the bacon for a vegetarian version, or use different types of beans!
- Make-Ahead Friendly: These beans taste even better the next day, making them perfect for meal prep.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Before we start, gather everything you need:
- 4 cups canned navy beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 strips bacon (chopped)
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 cups water
Now that everything is set, let’s dive into the step-by-step process.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Honey Baked Beans
Now, let’s break down the cooking process step by step, so you can follow along easily and even take photos for a stunning food journal.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) to ensure a slow and steady cooking process that allows the flavors to develop and the sauce to thicken. Baking at a low temperature is key to achieving that deep caramelized texture and rich, glossy sauce. Make sure your oven rack is positioned in the center to allow even cooking.
Step 2: Cook the Bacon
In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, add the chopped bacon and cook over medium heat until it becomes crispy and golden brown, which should take about 5 minutes. Cooking the bacon first allows it to render its fat, which will infuse the beans with that unmistakable smoky flavor. Once the bacon is perfectly crisp, use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the flavorful bacon grease in the pan for the next step.
Step 3: Sauté the Onion and Garlic
Using the bacon fat left in the pan, add the diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes soft, translucent, and slightly golden. This step builds a rich, flavorful base for the sauce. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, just until it becomes fragrant. Be careful not to overcook the garlic, as it can turn bitter if browned too much.
Step 4: Prepare the Flavorful Sauce
Now it’s time to create the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors! Stir in the honey, molasses, ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cinnamon. Mix everything well to ensure the flavors meld together, then let the mixture simmer for 1-2 minutes over medium heat. This brief simmering step helps blend the ingredients and slightly thickens the sauce before baking.
Step 5: Add the Beans & Water
Gently fold in the drained navy beans, making sure they are fully coated in the flavorful sauce. Pour in 1 ½ cups of water and stir well to create the perfect consistency. The water will help the beans absorb the sauce while baking, ensuring they turn out thick, rich, and perfectly tender by the end of the cooking process.
Step 6: Bake the Beans to Perfection
Place the oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven into the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 1.5 to 2 hours. This slow baking process allows the beans to soak up all the flavors while thickening into a delicious, caramelized sauce. Be sure to stir every 30 minutes to prevent sticking, and if the beans start to look too thick, add a little more water to keep the sauce at the perfect consistency.
Step 7: Finish with Crispy Bacon
Once the beans are thick, glossy, and bubbling with rich flavors, carefully remove them from the oven. Stir in the crispy bacon you set aside earlier, ensuring it’s evenly distributed throughout the dish. Let the beans rest for 5 minutes before serving, allowing the flavors to settle and the sauce to thicken slightly more. Serve warm and enjoy!
Storage & Reheating Tips
Want to make your honey baked beans ahead of time? No problem!
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container.
- Reheating: Warm on the stove over medium heat, adding a splash of water if needed.
Final Thoughts
Homemade honey baked beans are more than just a dish they’re a taste of nostalgia, comfort, and the joy of slow-cooked flavors coming together perfectly. For me, they bring back memories of family barbecues, lazy Sunday mornings, and meals shared with loved ones, where the smoky sweetness of honey and molasses made every bite feel special.
There’s something incredibly satisfying about making them from scratch, knowing that each spoonful is packed with real, wholesome ingredients and rich, caramelized goodness.
Whether you’re serving them at a gathering or just treating yourself, these beans always deliver that warm, homey feel. If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear how it turned out did you put your spin on it? Let me know!
Honey Baked Beans Recipe
6
servings15
minutes2
hours250
kcalKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
4 cups 4 canned navy beans
1/2 cup 1/2 honey
1/4 cup 1/4 molasses
1/4 cup 1/4 ketchup
1/4 cup 1/4 brown sugar
1 tablespoon 1 Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon 1 Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 salt
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 black pepper
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon 1/4 ground cinnamon
6 strips 6 bacon (chopped)
1 medium 1 onion (diced)
2 cloves 2 garlic (minced)
1 1/2 cups 1 1/2 water
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (163°C).
- Cook Bacon: In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet with the bacon fat, add diced onion and cook until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Prepare Sauce: Stir in honey, molasses, ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and cinnamon. Mix well.
- Add Beans & Liquid: Pour in the navy beans and stir to coat them in the sauce. Add water and mix well.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake uncovered for about 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. If the beans look dry, add a little more water.
- Finish & Serve: Once the beans are thick and caramelized, remove them from the oven. Stir in the crispy bacon and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
