Boston Baked Beans
Quick answer
- Total time
- 870 min
- Level
- Medium
- Servings
- 10 servings
- Ingredients
- 8
About this dish
Pinto beans come out of a long, slow bake glazed in molasses, mustard and bacon, the sauce about as loose as thin syrup.
Read more
Between the overnight soak, a first simmer on the stove and 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours in a covered pot in the oven, this is a start-in-the-morning dish. Hot water goes in a little at a time whenever the liquid runs low.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Sort and rinse the beans, cover generously with water and refrigerate for 8 hours.
Discard this soaking water; it is separate from the measured cooking water.
- 2
Bring beans, 4 cups water, bay leaves and 0.5 teaspoon salt to a boil in an ovenproof pot.
Partially cover and simmer for 65-75 minutes, until softened but holding their shape.
- 3
Heat the oven to 175°C.
Remove the bay leaves but retain the liquid. Stir in chopped onion, diced bacon, molasses, mustard and the remaining salt.
- 4
Cover and bake for 4½-5 hours.
Stir occasionally and add hot water before the pot dries out. Finish when the beans are tender through the center and coated in a light syrupy sauce.
References checked
These references were consulted when this page was prepared or corrected. A source check does not mean the recipe was independently kitchen-tested.
- Classic Boston baked beans
Mayo Clinic · Checked: 2026-09-26
- The Versatile Bean
Utah State University Extension · Checked: 2026-09-26
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