UW Extension

Baked beans are the perfect side dish for summer cookouts, picnics and family gatherings. They are a classic accompaniment to summer barbecue meals!

Baked beans are nutritious, providing many healthy carbs, fiber and plant-based protein. Since beans are inexpensive and provide a good source of nutrients, they are a popular food.

Baked beans are baked low and slow in a tangy, sweet and savory sauce. Beans are an important ingredient that you need to pick out before you start cooking.

Thick-skinned varieties like navy, great northern beans, kidney or pinto beans are the best options to withstand long cooking. Navy beans are traditionally the go-to choice because they're small and stay tender after cooking.

Now, let's look at how baked beans are made. The process starts with soaking the beans in water that covers them by at least 1 inch overnight in the refrigerator to soften them.

Once soaked, drain the water off the beans. Add the soaked beans to a large stock pot. Cover the beans by 1 inch with fresh water. Bring water to a rapid boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer beans for 1 hour.

Drain cooked beans well. Prepare the sauce as directed in the recipe.

The beans are then baked for several hours in a flavorful sauce. The beans slowly absorb the sauce flavors as they cook, resulting in a hearty dish.

The most significant difference between canned and dried beans is the time it takes to prepare them. Dried beans are also more cost-effective because a bag is inexpensive.

If you're short on time, canned beans work, but you won't have as much control over their texture and the amount of salt. Canned beans are a convenient, quick option.

1. New England-Style Baked Beans

Boston baked beans are made by simmering navy beans on the stove for several hours, and their sauce includes ingredients such as molasses, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and onion and garlic for added flavor. Traditional Boston baked beans are made with salt pork, a type of cured pork. Some recipes substitute bacon or ham.

In contrast, Maine baked beans are commonly made using yellow-eye beans and a sauce with similar ingredients. However, Maine baked beans are placed in a large pot along with the other ingredients. The mixture is covered with water or stock and slowly baked together.

In Vermont, the sauce is prepared with maple syrup instead of molasses.

2. Southern-Style Baked Beans

Southern-style baked beans include barbeque sauce with the addition of molasses for their rich and smoky flavor. The beans are cooked with pork and bacon bits tossed on top of the beans before baking.

3. Tex-Mex Baked Beans

Tex-Mex or cowboy baked beans are a spicy variation of classic baked beans. This dish version is typically made with pinto beans. The main difference between Tex-Mex baked beans and other variations is the choice of beans and their spicier and slightly less sweet sauce.

Tex-Mex baked beans are baked with a sauce prepared using bold, savory ingredients such as chili powder, onion, garlic and tomato sauce. Some recipes may include ingredients such as bacon or jalapenos to enhance the traditional flavors of Tex-Mex cuisine. These beans are often topped with crumbled cheese when served.

4. Kansas City Baked Beans

Kansas City baked beans emphasize its signature thick and sweet tomato-based sauce with a tangy barbeque sauce. In addition, dry rubs are a key ingredient. The rub usually comprises a mixture of brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, onion, garlic, mustard and chili powders.

The beans might include burnt ends, which are crispy, caramelized and burnt pieces from the ends of a brisket that are cut off before serving. Thus, adding the burnt ends gives the beans a smoky flavor.

5. Memphis-Style Baked Beans

These baked beans frequently contain a Memphis-style rub with a spicy yet herbal flavor. The rub often contains brown and white sugar, paprika, salt, black pepper, chili, garlic and onion powders, ground thyme, oregano, allspice and ginger.

Memphis-style baked beans are often cooked with bacon, pork shoulder, or other smoked meat. Alternatively, a drop of liquid smoke can be added to give the beans a smoky flavor without needing a smoker or grill.

6. Carolina Baked Beans

Carolina-style baked beans are known for their sweet and smoky flavor. Carolina baked beans include pinto, butter, great northern, navy and red kidney beans, providing multiple flavors and textures. The beans are mixed with caramelized onions and crispy bacon before baking, adding an extra sweet and salty flavor. Some recipes also call for adding barbecue sauce and hot sauce to give the beans a deeper, smoky, spicy flavor.

7. Santa Maria Baked Beans

Santa Maria-style baked beans are a popular dish in the Central Coast region of California. The dish is known for its simplicity and its use of local ingredients, like Anaheim chile and pinquito beans. Pinquito beans are related to kidney beans, yet they are very small and have a light pinkish color.

Santa Maria-style baked beans are cooked in a sauce made with Anaheim chile, ancho chile powder, onion, garlic, brown sugar, paprika, dry mustard and tomato puree. They are also mixed with smoked bacon and ham.

8. Hawaiian-Style Baked Beans

Hawaiian-style baked beans feature pineapple chunks, bell pepper, onions, brown sugar, ketchup or tomato sauce and mustard. Some recipes include ingredients such as bacon or diced ham for added flavor.

9. Louisiana-Style Baked Beans

Louisiana-style baked beans include andouille sausage (a smoked pork-based sausage), a mix of garlic and onion powders, kosher salt, cayenne, and ground black pepper. These baked beans would not be considered Louisiana-style without their staple mix of chopped onion, bell pepper and celery, also known as the Holy Trinity of Cajun cuisine.

No outdoor cookout, barbecue, or summer meal is complete without a side of baked beans. Everyone needs a reliable recipe for baked beans, regardless of your preferred style.

(Sources: http://www.allrecipes.com; http://www.southernliving.com; http://www.thedailymeal.com)