Three Variations on Classic Boston Baked Beans

No doubt about it, Boston is famous for its fabulous baked beans recipes. Here are three ways to enjoy this classic comfort food. The characteristic flavor of Boston beans is created by long, slow baking in a sweet molasses-based sauce richly flavored with bacon or salt pork, and the result is pure baked bean heaven.
Here's a basic recipe that will deliver authentic Boston bean taste.
Classic Boston Baked BeansDried Navy or Great Northern beans are the traditional choices for Boston baked beans. Since the beans need to be soaked overnight, this is a dish that has to be planned in advance. Total baking time is four hours.
Ingredients- 2 cups navy beans- 1/2 pound bacon, diced- 1 onion, diced- 1/3 cup molasses- 1 teaspoon salt- 1 teaspoon black pepper- 1 teaspoon mustard- 1/2 cup ketchup- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Soak beans overnight in cold water. The next day, drain soaking water and cover beans with fresh water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Drain and reserve the liquid. Combine beans with bacon and onion in a large oven-safe pot. In a separate bowl combine molasses, salt, pepper, mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, and worcestershire sauce with one cup of the reserved liquid; stir to mix thoroughly, then add to beans and mix well.
Cover pot (use aluminum foil if pot has no lid) and bake at 300 degrees for 3 hours, checking occasionally and adding from the remaining reserved liquid as necessary to keep the mixture from drying out. When the mixture has baked for three hours, remove from oven and stir well, adding from the reserved liquid as necessary. Re-cover the pot and return to the oven to bake for another hour, then remove lid or foil and bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
Boston Baked Beans, Crockpot VersionBaked beans are a natural for crockpot cooking. Just put the beans to soak before you go to bed, drain and add them to the crockpot in the morning, and come home to a delicious meal!
Ingredients:- 2 pounds Navy or Great Northern beans- 1 medium onion, chopped- 6 strips of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled- 1 teaspoon mustard- 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves- 1 cup molasses- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed- 1 teaspoon salt
Soak beans overnight. In the morning, drain beans and set aside. Mix all remaining ingredients together and pour into slow cooker, then add beans and enough water to cover. Stir well. Set cooker to low and cook for 10-12 hours.
Super Short Cut Boston Baked BeansIf you crave that classic baked bean taste but don't have time for hours of baking or crockpot cooking, try this shortcut version. You'll be enjoying this dish in under an hour!
Ingredients:- 1 large onion, sliced thin- 3 slices bacon, finely chopped- 1 teaspoon onion powder- 2 large (28 oz) cans of Pork and Beans- 1 tablespoon molasses or maple syrup- 1 cup ketchup- 1 teaspoon mustard- 1/3 cup of prepared BBQ sauce
Saute the bacon and onion together in a frying pan until the bacon is crispy and the onion is softened. In large dutch oven or baking dish, combine molasses, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, and onion powder. Add bacon, onions, and beans and stir. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.