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The Best Baked Beans Recipe

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Use this baked beans recipe to make the most delicious hearty homemade baked beans that are perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch or an easy and economical dinner.

Two slices of rustic toast topped with baked beans on a white plate with brown rim.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Gluten Free & Refined sugar free, yet the taste is so much better than store bought baked beans.
  • Easy vegan recipe with no complicated steps
  • An economical homemade heart warming meal.

Ingredients you will need

  • olive oil
  • onion 
  • garlic
  • thyme
  • smoked paprika
  • apple puree/applesauce
  • tomato puree
  • wholegrain mustard
  • vegetable stock
  • pinto beans (canned)
The ingredients to make baked beans laid out on a bench top.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutes

  • Thyme: Both fresh or dried thyme is fine to use in this recipe.
  • Smoked paprika: As its name suggests the smoked paprika adds a smokey flavour to the recipe. Hungarian paprika is smoked. If you cannot find smoked paprika then it is ok to use sweet paprika the beans will just not be as smokey.
  • Apple purée/applesauce: Store bought or homemade apple puree is fine to use.
  • Tomato purée: I use canned tomato purée, which is crushed and sieved Italian tomatoes. Passata is another name for tomato purée.
  • Wholegrain mustard: This can be substituted for Dijon mustard.
  • Vegetable stock: Beef, or Chicken stock can also be used it you don't need this recipe to be vegan/vegetarian.
  • Pinto beans (canned): These can be substituted for other canned beans such as kidney beans, navy beans, borlotti beans, or cannellini beans. If you are going to use dried beans, be sure to soak them as directed on their packet. The cook time will also be longer with dried beans.

I am an ambassador for Woolworths supermarkets, they support my blog by providing ingredients for recipe creation and testing. I used pinto beans, canned tomatoes, apple sauce and wholegrain mustard from their range in this recipe

Step-by-step instructions

Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions to make my easy baked bean recipe, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card below, or check out the recipe video.

Step one: Heat the olive oil in a large sauce pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and thyme, sauté until the onion is soft and fragrant. 

Sautéed finely diced onion and thyme in the bottom of a large saucepan.

Step two: Add the smoked paprika, cook for 1 minute 

Sautéed finely diced onion and paprika in the bottom of a large saucepan.

Step three: Add the apple sauce, tomato puree, vegetable stock, mustard and beans, stir until well combined.

A large saucepan filled with tomato soup, beans visible on the surface of the puree.

Step four Simmer uncovered stirring occasionally until the sauce is thick and glossy (15 - 20 minutes). Season with salt and pepper.

A saucepan of beans in a rich dark red glossy sauce.

Enjoy!

Two slices of rustic toast topped with baked beans on a white plate with brown rim.

Top Tips

Here is how you can make these homemade baked beans perfectly every time!

  • For the best smoked baked bean flavour be sure to include the smoked paprika and the mustard. These two ingredients bring rich earthy and umami flavours to the bean mixture.
  • This baked beans recipe is delicious as it is, a dish of vegan yumminess. But if you live in a household where you eat animal based products, then you may like my husband's tip. My husband loves to add diced bacon or chorizo sausage to this recipe while he is sautéing the onions.
  • For young children once cooked try giving the beans a quick mash with your potato masher this will not only reduce the risk of choking (for very the young) but can also break up the beans a bit reducing their 'bean texture' which can make them more appealing for children.
Two slices of rustic toast topped with beans in a rich red sauce and half a hard boiled egg, parsley as garnish.

Serving ideas for baked beans

  • Simply on toast or in toasted sandwiches for breakfast, lunch or dinner
  • If you live in a household where you do not need this recipe to be entirely plant based then it's lovely hard boiled eggs make the perfect side dish.
  • Alongside Mac and Cheese to create a more balanced meal
  • With grilled or roasted vegetables like carrot fries, roasted cauliflower or sweet potato fries.
  • As a filling in bread cases
  • As a topping for a tortilla pizza
  • As a filling for a taco bar night
Two slices of rustic toast topped with baked beans on a white plate with brown rim.
Baked beans on toast topped with a hard boiled eggs and sprigs of parsley.

Baked Beans

This homemade baked beans recipe is easy and economical to make, gluten and refined sugar free honestly the most delicious bean recipe!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: New Zealalnd
Keyword: baked beans recipe, homemade baked beans, smoked baked beans
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 279kcal

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Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • 1 teaspoon thyme dried or fresh
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • ½ cup apple puree apple sauce
  • 1 can tomato puree 400 grams, 14 oz
  • 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • 2 cans pinto beans (drained) 800 grams, 28 oz

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large sauce pan over a medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and thyme, sauté until the onion is soft and fragrant.
  • Add the smoked paprika, cook for 1 minute
  • Add the apple sauce, tomato puree vegetable stock, mustard and drained beans.
  • Simmer uncovered until the sauce is thick and glossy, stirring occasionally (15-20 minutes).
  • Season with salt and pepper
  • Enjoy

Notes

  • For the best smoked baked bean flavour be sure to include the smoked paprika and the mustard. These two ingredients bring rich earthy and umami flavours to the bean mixture.
  • This baked beans recipe is delicious as it is, a dish of vegan yumminess. But if you live in a household where you eat animal based products, then you may like my husband's tip. My husband loves to add diced bacon or chorizo sausage to this recipe while he is sautéing the onions. 
  • For young children once cooked try giving the beans a quick mash with your potato masher this will not only reduce the risk of choking (for very the young) but can also break up the beans a bit reducing their 'bean texture' which can make them more appealing for children. 
  • Thyme: Both fresh or dried thyme is fine to use in this recipe. 
  • Smoked paprika: As its name suggests the smoked paprika adds a smokey flavour to the recipe. Hungarian paprika is smoked. If you cannot find smoked paprika then it is ok to use sweet paprika the beans will just not be as smokey. 
  • Apple purée/applesauce: Store bought or homemade apple puree is fine to use. 
  • Tomato purée: I use canned tomato purée, which is crushed and sieved Italian tomatoes. Passata is another name for tomato purée.
  • Wholegrain mustard: This can be substituted for Dijon mustard. 
  • Vegetable stock: Beef, or Chicken stock can also be used it you don't need this recipe to be vegan/vegetarian. 
  • Pinto beans (canned): These can be substituted for other canned beans such as kidney beans, navy beans, borlotti beans, or cannellini beans. If you are going to use dried beans, be sure to soak them as directed on their packet. The cook time will also be longer with dried beans. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 188mg | Potassium: 936mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 775IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 4mg

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