4th of July Homemade Baked Beans
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🍲 Servings: 6–8
4th of July Homemade Baked Beans
Description
Smoky, sweet, and slow-simmered, these Summer Baked Beans made with Doudlah Farms Organic Pinto Beans are essential for backyard BBQ. Packed with bold flavor from molasses, maple, and spice, they’re the perfect sidekick to grilled favorites and picnic spreads.
Fire up the grill and celebrate the Fourth with a classic done right—homemade baked beans made from organic, Wisconsin-grown beans. Wholesome, hearty, and crowd-pleasing, they’ll steal the show at your next summer cookout.
🍲 Servings: 6–8
⏲️ Prep Time: 20 mins (plus overnight soaking)
⏲️ Cook Time: 2.5–3 hours
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups dried Doudlah Farms Organic Pinto Beans (or Black Turtle, Navy, or Jacob’s Cattle Beans)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups water (plus soaking/cooking water)
- ¾ cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
- ⅓ cup molasses
- ¼ cup maple syrup (or brown sugar)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional, for heat)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter (for sautéing)
Instructions
1. Soak the Beans
- Rinse beans thoroughly and soak overnight in a large bowl with plenty of water.
2. Cook the Beans
- Drain and rinse soaked beans.
- Place in a large pot, cover with fresh water, add the bay leaf, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer and cook for 45–60 minutes until tender. Drain and discard the bay leaf.
3. Make the Sauce
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven.
- Sauté onions until soft (5–7 mins), then add garlic and cook another 1–2 minutes.
- Stir in tomato sauce, molasses, maple syrup, vinegar, mustard, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Combine and Bake
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Stir cooked beans into the sauce, add 1½ cups water, and mix well.
- Cover and bake for 2 hours, checking halfway to ensure beans stay saucy—add water if needed.
- Uncover for the last 30 minutes for a thicker texture.
5. Serve
- Taste and adjust salt/maple/smoke balance if needed. Serve warm.
Notes
🌱 Serving Suggestions
- As a summer BBQ side
- Topped with fresh herbs and avocado
- Over toast for a protein-packed breakfast
- With grilled vegetables or cornbread
