Baked Beans from Scratch

We are probably not the only ones who have been standing in front of the pantry or a drawer filled with canned goods and asked ourselves, “what shall we cook today” during this wild corona time. If there’s one positive thing that we can all take from this, it is the fact that we will use all those cans that have been stored there for weeks or even months. We always have canned beans, canned tomatoes, spices, and herbs at home, so it’s good to have a recipe to make something delicious out of it. Baked beans with bacon and tomato sauce is such an easy recipe that is great for any day of the year, as a side for putlock and picnics, or as a main dish, served for lunch or dinner, along with toasted white bread—such a simple, satisfying and delicious recipe.

Simple Baked Beans Recipe

easy recipe for any day of the year
you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry
a dish filled with delicious ground paprika from Kotányi
with a subtly sweet aroma, that makes this dish even richer
serve as a main dish along with toasted bread or serve as a side dish for putlock, picnics, gatherings
great and healthy(ish) weeknight dinner

How to make Baked Beans from Scratch

Cook - prepare the tomato sauce, then cook it in a skillet on a stove for a few minutes
Add - white beans (like Cannellini) from a can (or cook the beans at home, just make sure not to overcook them)
Bake - in an oven bake the beans with tomato sauce until nicely thickened, caramelized and sweet
Serve - with toasted bread and optionally sprinkle with fresh herbs like parsley and drizzle with olive oil

What to serve with baked beans

Baked beans is a simple dish, that can be easily upgraded by serving it with one of these tasty additions. We love:

Toasted white bread. We usually toast a thick slice of brioche bread (like on the photo) and spoon a generous amount of baked beans on top. It's so simple, yet incredibly tasty and perfect for a quick midweek lunch or dinner. Optionally serve it with a bowl of fresh salad for a bit of freshness.

Cooked sausage or smoked and cured meat. In colder months, when we need a little something extra, or during the Easter holidays, it's great to serve baked beans with cooked Italian sausages or other that you like or with any leftover smoked or cured meat. It's so delicious.

For some freshness, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley or chives and drizzle with good quality olive oil.

How to store and freeze baked beans

This easy baked beans with bacon recipe can be stored in two ways.

Cover the baked beans and keep them chilled in a fridge for up to 3 days. Before serving, reheat in a skillet on a stove, then serve.

Or you can place the cooled baked beans in a freezer bag or airtight container and place it in the freezer. Keep it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Before serving, defrost and reheat in a skillet on a stove, then serve.

Try these delicious recipes with beans too

Thanks to Kotanyi Slovenija for all the amazing spices that we absolutely adore and make our dishes richer. All the opinions are ours and we only share our honest opinions and recommendations for great products that we actually use.

METHOD

preparation

Preheat your oven to 220 °C / 430 °F. Peel and dice the onion. Cut the pancetta or bacon into small cubes. Place a skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and pancetta or bacon. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. In a bowl, stir to combine diced tomatoes, brown sugar, vinegar, and water. When the onion is softened, add the diced garlic, paprika, oregano, and bay leaf. Gently season with pepper, stir and cook for another minute for the spices to release all the aroma.
cook the tomato sauce

Add the prepared tomato sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Remove the bay leaf and add the drained white beans (like Cannelini). Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
bake

Remove from the heat and transfer to a deep baking dish. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet to prevent spills. Place in the preheated oven on the middle rack. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes at 220 °C / 430 °F or until beautifully caramelized and cooked.
serve

Toast six thick slices of white bread or toast bread. Divide between six plates and generously spoon the baked beans on top. Optionally sprinkle with chopped parsley and drizzle with olive oil.

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