Zesty Homemade Baked Beans Recipe: Ina Garten’s Magic Formula
Dive into the world of comfort food with Ina Garten’s baked beans recipe that promises to delight your taste buds.
Slow-cooked to perfection, these beans burst with rich, smoky flavors that dance on your palate.
The carefully selected ingredients blend harmoniously, creating a dish that speaks to the heart of home cooking.
Garten’s touch elevates this classic side dish from ordinary to extraordinary.
Each spoonful carries a depth of flavor that tells a story of culinary expertise.
The aroma alone will draw you into the kitchen, tempting you to grab a serving spoon.
Get ready to savor a timeless recipe that turns a simple bean dish into a memorable meal.
Ingredients You’ll Combine for Ina Garten Baked Beans
For Bean Base:For Flavor Enhancers:For Aromatic Complement:Tools That Help When Making Ina Garten Baked Beans
How to Cook Ina Garten Baked Beans at Home
Bean Comfort
Rinse dried beans thoroughly and place them in a large saucepan with fresh water. Allow beans to soak, creating a foundation for rich flavor development.
Bring water with beans to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and let simmer gently. This process helps break down tough bean fibers and enhances overall tenderness.
Craft a delectable sauce by blending sweet and tangy ingredients like maple syrup, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. This mixture will provide depth and complexity to the beans.
Transfer beans to a deep baking dish, generously coating with prepared sauce. Place in a warm oven, allowing slow cooking to meld flavors and create a rich, hearty texture.
After hours of patient cooking, remove beans from oven. Let them rest briefly, allowing sauce to thicken and flavors to fully integrate. Serve warm as a comforting side dish that promises pure culinary satisfaction.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 hours 20 minutes
Total Time: 7 hours 10 minutes
Calories: 180 kcal
Servings: 6
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Rustic Ina Garten Baked Beans Recipe
- Total Time: 7 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Ina Garten’s homemade baked beans elevate classic comfort cuisine with rich, smoky flavors. Hearty navy beans slow-cooked with bacon, molasses, and spices create a satisfying side dish you’ll crave at summer gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 cup navy beans, soaked overnight and drained (240 ml)
- 4 cups water (960 ml)
- ¼ cup ketchup (60 ml)
- ¼ cup maple syrup (60 ml)
- 2 tbsps molasses (30 ml)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (5 ml)
- 2 tbsps brown sugar (30 ml)
- ½ tsp salt (2.5 ml)
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper (0.6 ml)
- 1/8 tsp chili powder (0.6 ml)
- 1 small onion, chopped
Instructions
- Bean Preparation: Thoroughly rinse navy beans and immerse in water, ensuring complete coverage. Bring to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 60 minutes until beans become tender.
- Sauce Crafting: Whisk ketchup, maple syrup, dark brown sugar, blackstrap molasses, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, and chili powder in a mixing bowl to create a robust flavor profile.
- Assembly: Drain beans, reserving cooking liquid. Transfer to a ceramic casserole dish, integrating diced yellow onion and prepared molasses-based sauce. Pour reserved liquid to cover beans by 1/4 inch.
- Initial Baking: Preheat oven to 375°F. Cover dish and bake for 10 minutes to initiate flavor infusion.
- Slow Cooking: Reduce oven temperature to 200°F and continue cooking for 6 hours. Gently stir beans midway through to ensure even cooking and prevent adherence to the dish.
- Finishing Touch: Remove from oven when beans achieve a creamy consistency and sauce thickens. Allow to rest, covered, for 15 minutes before serving to enhance flavor melding.
Notes
- Soak Smartly: Rinse beans meticulously to remove dirt and potential debris, which enhances overall flavor and texture.
- Liquid Love: Maintain consistent moisture by reserving cooking liquid, ensuring beans remain creamy and preventing dry, tough results.
- Low and Slow Magic: Extended low-temperature cooking transforms tough beans into tender, flavor-packed deliciousness without burning or overcooking.
- Flavor Layering: Whisking sauce ingredients thoroughly before combining creates a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and savory notes that deeply penetrate the beans.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Isabella Rodriguez
Co-Founder & Content Creator
Expertise
Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning
Education
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.
At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.