Healthy Baked Beans Recipe

Looking for the best healthy baked beans recipe? Well, there are no molasses or refined sugars in this baked beans recipe.

It is quite unfortunate that most vegan baked bean recipes are filled with unhealthy sugar and additives.

However, in this easy and simple recipe, you will get its incredible flavor from just a small amount of natural maple syrup and smokey chipotle paste.

There’s a high possibility that you will relate eating baked beans as a compulsory addition to a full English breakfast if you are British.

However, you can enjoy your beans at your next potluck or BBQ if the thought of eating them for breakfast sounds a bit too foreign to you.

If you can pair them with some vegan sausages and a vegan potato salad, then you are definitely in for a treat.

What Are Baked Beans?

Baked beans might have different meanings, as this is determined by where you are from in the world.

Different beans are used in different countries with added flavorings, and some might even incorporate the addition of foods like sausage and bacon.

In the UK, the term means canned beans in a simple tomato sauce. You can go for the brand Heinz, but there are several other brands available.

Well, that being said, let’s get right into the best recipe for healthy baked beans, as you are here to learn how to perfectly make it.

Healthy Baked Beans

These healthy baked beans are extremely tasty compared to anything that you can buy in a can.

However, they are vegan, and there’s no refined sugar in them. They make an ideal addition to your picnic or barbecue. Now, let’s dive in.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Course: Side Dish
• Cuisine: American
• Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

• 3 cans of navy (or haricot) beans (drained)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce (or tamari sauce for gluten-free)
• 1 medium yellow onion (finely diced)
• 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
• ½ cup of water
• ¼ cup of maple syrup
• ½ cup of tomato passata/puree
• 1 tablespoon of chipotle paste
• 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

Laid-Out Instructions

For the Oven

1. First, you are to heat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius, or 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, proceed to heat the olive oil in an ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven.
2. Also, sauté the onion for 4-5 minutes. After that, add the chipotle paste, garlic, and water to it.
3. Then, simmer over low heat for 2 minutes. When that is done, you can now add the beans and the remaining ingredients.
4. After that, you can now stir to combine and, for 5 minutes, allow it to simmer. Then, proceed to transfer the beans to the oven and cook for 45 minutes.

For the Slow Cooker

1. For this, you must first preheat the slow cooker. Then proceed to heat the olive oil in a skillet.
2. Afterward, sauté the onion for 4-5 minutes. Also, add chipotle paste, garlic, and water. You can now simmer over low heat for 2 minutes.
3. With that being done, add the beans and the remaining ingredients, then stir to combine.
4. After that, transfer the beans to the slow cooker, and for 4 hours, cook on medium heat. And check on occasion to ensure that they are not drying out.
5. Just add 125 ml (1/2 cup) of water if the beans look dry.

What to Serve With Your Baked Beans

These healthy baked beans are so delicious that it is very likely that you will be tempted to devour them on their own for a midday snack.

Or, you can have them as an addition to your toast and eggs in the morning.

You can serve them with some other tasty recipes and finish with one of these fabulous desserts for a refreshing meal.

Sides

• Maple-glazed carrots
• Marmite roast potatoes
• Classic macaroni salad
• Keto coleslaw or you can go with vegan coleslaw.

Mains

• Smoked beef short ribs
• Marinated chicken drumsticks
• Butternut and chickpea burger
• Paneer Tikka

Dessert

• Carrot cake cupcakes
• Vegan oat cookies
• Kinder Bueno cookie bar
• Chia seed cake

How to Store Baked Beans

Refrigerator

You can store your leftovers for 5–6 days in the refrigerator; just make sure that you place them in a covered container.

Freezer

You can freeze them for up to 2–3 months. However, to freeze them, allow them to cool completely first, then place them in a freezer-safe container.

Make sure you leave ½ inch of head space for expansion. And, to freeze larger portions, just get a large ziplock.

However, get rid of as much air as you can before zip-locking. Then, make sure you defrost before reheating.

Reheat

To reheat, all you need to do is simply rewarm on the stovetop, but make sure it is on low heat.

Do this until it gets warmed through. Another option is to reheat in the microwave.

Go for the 30-60 second intervals, then stir after each until it becomes warm.

Baked Beans Recipe FAQs

Are Baked Beans Healthy?

There are a lot of store-bought and homemade baked beans that are not healthy.

However, this simple baked bean recipe is an excellent lightening substitute.

It is healthy and filled with flavor and protein. Baked beans often come with massive amounts of sweeteners such as brown sugar, corn syrup, or cane sugar, in addition to bacon. It adds both calories and fat.

Can I Use Dried Beans In This Recipe?

To use dried beans in this healthy recipe, you will need to cook them before you use them.

What Are The Best Beans for Baked Beans?

For any homemade baked bean recipe from scratch, I suggest you go for the great northern beans, as they have good size, texture, and taste.

However, there are other great options, such as navy beans and pinto beans. Navy beans were used in this recipe for baked beans.

Can I Freeze Baked Beans?

The short and straightforward answer to this is yes. As previously mentioned, all you need to do is let them cool before you place them in freezer-safe containers. This way, they will remain fresh for at least two months.

Final Thoughts on Healthy Baked Beans

As previously stated, you can use small white beans, great northern beans, and, in this case, navy beans, as they are the perfect options.

You need to ensure that your beans are not expired, given the fact that older beans will not cook properly.

And, they might stay hard and undercooked. Compared to dried beans, canned beans are much simpler.

Well, all that being said, this will be the wrap-up of this guide on healthy baked beans recipe as you now have everything you need to perfectly make it.