This Grandma Brown's baked beans recipe is loaded with all the same savory, hearty, and meaty deliciousness as the original kind. It combines perfectly cooked navy beans with savory ham and a dash of brown sugar to make smooth, creamy beans that are totally addictive.
If you've never had Grandma Brown's baked beans, you're in for one of the most delicious bean recipes ever! The original Grandma Brown's baked beans are a Northeast staple that comes in a can. Well, they used to anyway before they stopped making them.
Since I grew up eating these beans at almost every summertime family picnic - and I can no longer get them at the store - I decided to try my hand at making them from scratch. Well, spoiler alert, I think I nailed it!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
The beans are legit. These homemade Grandma Brown baked beans are perfectly tender with that iconic flavor, and I added some diced ham to take everything to another level. Sweet, a little savory, and a whole lotta delicious, they're so good!
They're easy to make. First, cook the beans, then soak them overnight. Finally, toss them into a baking dish with the other ingredients and bake. It's effortless!
So versatile. These beans are delicious as a meal all by themselves, and they also go so well with sweet potato patties, rotisserie chicken salad, Texas Roadhouse rolls, or honey glazed carrots.
Ingredients Needed
- Navy beans- the classic beans used in the original canned version.
- Baking soda- for the best texture.
- Salt- just a pinch.
- Cooked ham- chopped into smaller pieces. Diced bacon works great too.
- Brown sugar- for the addictive sweetness.
- Onion- a small one chopped for some savoriness.
- Bay leaf- for extra flavor.
By the way, if you end up with any extra navy beans, then I definitely suggest you try this ham and beans recipe next. It's a great way to use up any leftover ham from this recipe too!
How To Make Grandma Brown's Baked Beans
Step 1: Soak The Beans
First things first, you'll want to take out a large saucepot and add 4 cups of water and baking soda to it. Then you can add the beans to the pot, bring everything to a boil, and cook the beans for 10 minutes.
When the time is up, you can remove the pot from the heat and let the beans sit in the water overnight to soften.
Step 2: Assemble The Baked Beans
In the morning, you'll want to preheat your oven to 300°F and rinse the soaked beans. Once rinsed, you can add them to any oven-proof dish with a lid. Then, you can follow this by adding the brown sugar, ham, onions, and just enough water to cover the beans. Lastly, you can season everything with a dash of salt, mix it all together, and add a bay leaf on top.
Step 3: Bake The Beans
Now that everything is in the baking dish, you can put it in the oven and bake the beans for 5 hours. Just make sure that you set a timer to check the beans every hour or so and add water as needed to prevent them from drying out. The beans should be thick and creamy when they're finished cooking.Finally, when your baked beans are done, you can serve them warm and enjoy!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
If you end up with any leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for about 3-5 days in an airtight container. To keep for longer, store in a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 6 months.
When you're ready to dive into your baked beans again, they're definitely best reheated. To reheat, I suggest putting them back in a baking dish and heating them at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until the beans reach your desired temperature.
Alternatively, if you want to reheat a single serving, you can microwave the leftovers in 20-second intervals, stirring between each one, until they're fully reheated. For what it's worth, this is the route I usually go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did they stop making Grandma Browns baked beans?
As of late, they have stopped making Grandma Brown's baked beans. So to get those delicious baked beans, you'll just have to make this recipe instead! Honestly though, I think my recipe is even better than the beans you could buy at the store. So it's not a problem you can't get them anymore.
Can I use canned beans for Grandma Brown's baked beans?
Yes, canned beans will work great in this recipe if you don't want to use dried beans. If you are using canned ones, you'll want to drain them first, and you won't have to boil them in the first step.
More Of My Favorite Bean Recipes
- Baked beans with ground beef
- Apple pie baked beans
- Baked beans casserole
- Bush's baked beans recipe
- Charro beans
- Baked beans with bacon
- Chipotle black beans
- Butter beans
- Great northern beans
Yield: 4 servings
The ABSOLUTE BEST Grandma Brown's Baked Beans Recipe
This Grandma Brown's baked beans recipe is loaded with all the same savory, hearty, and meaty deliciousness as the original kind. It combines perfectly cooked navy beans with savory ham and a dash of brown sugar to make smooth, creamy beans that are totally addictive. Oh, and best of all, it's so, so easy to make 'em. In fact, just 5 minutes of prep time is all it takes to whip up these baked beans!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 hours
Total Time5 hours 5 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ lb. navy beans
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 oz. cooked ham, chopped (or bacon)
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- In a saucepot, add 4 cups water and baking soda.
- Add beans and bring to a boil. Cook the beans for 10 minutes.
- Remove the beans from the stove and let them soak in water overnight.
- In the morning, rinse the beans and add them to an oven-proof dish with a lid.
- Add the beans, ham, brown sugar, and onions and enough water just to cover the beans to the dish. Season with salt and add a bay leaf.
- Place the lid on top and cook the beans in a preheated oven set to 300°F for 5 hours.
- Check the beans every hour and add water to prevent them from drying out. The beans should be thick and creamy.
- Serve the beans warm and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1 serving
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 234Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 15g
