Mom's Best Baked Beans (Vegan)
Submitted by cherber
Vegan baked beans slow-cooked with molasses, brown sugar, warm spices, and tomato sauce. No meat, no dairy, just rich and smoky homemade beans baked low and slow until thick and saucy. A hearty plant-based side dish.
YIELD
10 servingsPREP
25 hrsCOOK
4 hrsREADY
29 hrsThese vegan baked beans prove you do not need a single strip of bacon to get that deep, smoky, stick-to-your-ribs flavor. Dried navy beans soak overnight in a bath of molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and a warm spice blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice before spending four hours in the oven.
The result is a pot of thick, saucy beans with a sweet-and-tangy backbone that rivals any meat-based version. A generous pour of tomato sauce ties everything together while the dry mustard adds a sharp little bite hiding just under the surface.
This is a recipe that rewards patience. The overnight soak, the slow bake, the occasional stir: every step builds another layer of flavor.
Chef Tips
- Do not skip the overnight marinade. The beans absorb the molasses and spices as they soak, which deepens the flavor dramatically.
- Stir every 30 minutes during baking and add water if the beans look dry. They should stay submerged in liquid until the last hour.
- Remove the bay leaves before serving.
- A splash of apple cider vinegar stirred in right before serving brightens the whole pot.
Variations
- Smoky version: Add 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika and a teaspoon of liquid smoke for a barbecue-style bean.
- Spiced up: Stir in a minced chipotle pepper in adobo for a smoky, spicy twist.
- Maple swap: Replace the brown sugar with pure maple syrup for a more complex sweetness.
Ingredients
Directions
Rinse and drain beans.
Place in a large bowl with remaining ingredients except tomato sauce.
Mix well cover and place in the refigerator for 24 hours.
TO COOK: Transfer bean mixture to a large oven proof pot.
Add tomato sauce.
Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 45 minutes stirring occassionally.
Preheat oven to 300℉ (150℃).
Place pot in oven.
Bake 4 hours covered.
Check beans every half hour or so adding water and stirring as needed.
When beans are done to your likeness remove from oven and serve.
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