Crock Pot Baked Beans

[K Frame]

I got the hankering for a crock of baked beans.

Gimmie your best recipe.

[zxcvbob]

I don't make them in a crockpot.  I haven't made them in years, but I start with canned pork 'n' beans or Van Camp's vegetarian beans, and add bacon, onions, dry mustard, and molasses.  Simmer slowly in a cast iron pot until heated through and thickened a little.

[K Frame]

OK, I should have specified that I'm talking 100% homemade baked beans.

Starting with dry beans and soaking them and assembling all of the ingredients.

I have often seasoned/adjusted a can of baked beans, but they're a poor substitute to homemade, at best.

[zxcvbob]

OK, I should have specified that I'm talking 100% homemade baked beans.

Starting with dry beans and soaking them and assembling all of the ingredients.

I have often seasoned/adjusted a can of baked beans, but they're a poor substitute to homemade, at best.

I knew what you meant, I've just never done it that way.   If you're going to doctor them up, use pork and beans, not baked beans.  They are as good has homemade IMHO, but that's not what you want...

Starting from scratch I would probably use Great Northerns.  And even if you use a crockpot you might need to finish them in the oven to get a little browning action.  Good luck.  I'm curious to see what you end up with.

[MillCreek]

I will also follow this.  I have not made baked beans starting with dry beans, so I will be interested to see the recipes.

[K Frame]

Alton Brown has a GREAT baked bean recipe. I've made it before.

Just wanted to see if anyone here had a different recipe.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/the-once-and-future-beans-recipe-1938616

[zxcvbob]

Alton Brown has a GREAT baked bean recipe. I've made it before.

Just wanted to see if anyone here had a different recipe.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/the-once-and-future-beans-recipe-1938616

His recipe almost looks good   (it probably is good)  It should have mustard powder instead of cayenne.  I'm not sure how much, at least a teaspoon.

[MillCreek]

^^^So as a novice to soaking beans for baked beans (I have soaked beans for soup), is there a significant difference when making baked beans?  And boy, that recipe of Alton's looks great.

[zxcvbob]

^^^So as a novice to soaking beans for baked beans (I have soaked beans for soup), is there a significant difference when making baked beans?  And boy, that recipe of Alton's looks great.

You mean soak vs using them dry?  Yes you want to soak them.  You can cook them without soaking; especially if you use a pressure cooker, but you'll never get the amount of water right.  And some of them might stay a little crunchy (in a bad way)

[MillCreek]

^^^I expressed myself poorly.  I have soaked dry beans and then used them for soup.  I have never soaked dry beans and then used them for baked beans.  I am curious if using soaked dry beans for baked beans tastes that much better.  I always thought tasty baked beans were more a function of the sauce/seasonings than the beans, but I am happy to be educated.

[K Frame]

One of the biggest reasons for soaking the beans before making baked beans is that acids like those found in tomatoes or even molasses can stop beans from softening during cooking.

By soaking them first, you start the softening process by preloading them with water, which greatly reduces the amount of acid they'll take up.

In dishes like chili, that have a LOT of acid because of a lot of tomatoes, I soak AND cook the beans before I add them to the chili.

[K Frame]

Circling back to this.

I've not made baked beans yet, but I came across this recipe for an easier version of baked beans called Calico Beans. I've had these at pot lucks before and they're really good.

I think I may give them a try this weekend.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cowboy-calico-beans/

[MillCreek]

^^^I make these all the time, but sub out a good BBQ sauce for the ketchup.  I usually make a double recipe and use one pound of ground beef and one pound of bulk country sausage.  Very good.

[K Frame]

I figured I'd double it and have it for lunches and, if I need to, freeze a bunch. It should freeze really well.

[K Frame]

Made them. REALLY good. I used about a pound of ground turkey and a pound of Bob Evans sage pork sausage.

I also used Heinz Kansas City BBQ sauce, added some garlic powder and smoked paprika, and added an extra can of navy beans.

This one is a keeper. Great winter dinner. Needed some crusty bread, though. Not enough carbs with all of those beans... 

[K Frame]

I've made these several times this winter. Really nice Sunday dinner on a cold winter day, and the left overs I bring for lunch. It's a nice alternative to a batch of chili while still getting in the benefits of beans.

I've started using a bag of frozen lima beans instead of the canned because the canned are ridiculously expensive.

I've also messed around with various types of beans -- they all work.

 

[charby]

I love Cowboy beans, but I'll have to make them with non beef ground meat and sub out the red kidney beans.

Kidney beans give me the same reaction as if I ate beef. :(

[K Frame]

I make mine with turkey, and this is the first batch I've put kidney beans in. I'm normally not a big fan of kidney beans but I decided to mix it up this time.

[K Frame]

Time for a big heaping mess of crockpot Calico Cowboy Beans.

Always a winner when it gets cold and miserable out.

[JTHunter]

One of the gifts my brother & SiL gave me for Christmas were 2 qts. of homemade vacuum packed baked beans.  I've already finished one but haven't unsealed the other one.  They make and "vac-pak" a lot of stuff.  They also gave me a 2 lb. bag of the dry pintos they used so I can use them in something else.