• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Allergies
  • Substitutions
  • Guides
  • About
  • Shop

Living Beyond Allergies logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Allergies
  • Substitutions
  • Guides
  • About
  • Shop
  • Follow Along!

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Allergies
    • Substitutions
    • Guides
    • About
    • Shop
  • Follow Along!

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
  • ×

    HOME » Spring & Summer

    Dated: August 12, 2020 Last Modified: May 13, 2022 by Laura This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Brown Sugar Baked Beans

    I love when you share my recipes!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Quick + easy brown sugar baked beans that you make on the stove top or in a slow cooker! Full of flavor and so adaptable, this is the ultimate summer side dish. 

    This recipe is one of my favorite side dishes to take to summer potlucks, barbecues, family reunions, and more. These brown sugar baked beans with bacon are so easy to make with simple ingredients. 

    Baked beans are a classic recipe that are easier to make than you think, plus, you can customize the flavors for your family. Make them vegetarian or vegan, omit the mustard with a mustard allergy, or add extra bacon crumbled on top. The options are endless!

    Free From: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, mollusks, celery, corn, sesame, mustard, lupin, sulfites, and more

    two small bowls overflowing with brown sugar baked beans with sauce dripping down the side on a wood table

    This perfect BBQ side dish consists of beans, brown sugar, and a few extra spices in your kitchen. These beans are sweet, salty, and packed full of flavor. 

    They are the perfect thing to eat with burgers, chicken, or whatever you’re grilling! I’s awesome with a refreshing cucumber salad. 

    This recipe was updated with additional text and new photos May 2022 but the recipe remains the same. 

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients 
    • Allergy variations 
    • Flavor variations 
    • Baked beans instructions 
    • To make in a slow cooker
    • How to store 
    • More Recipes to Love
    • Recipe

    Ingredients 

    Beans are the most important ingredient here, obviously. Navy beans, northern beans, and pinto beans will all work. My personal favorite are cannellini beans for their sweet taste. 

    ingredients for baked beans in various glass bowls on the wood table

    You will also need:

    • Beans
    • Brown sugar
    • Tomato paste
    • Mustard powder
    • Molasses
    • Soy sauce
    • Garlic and onion powder
    • Ham / bacon 
    • Water 

    Allergy variations 

    If allergic to mustard, omit the mustard powder. Add a half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to give this a bit of tang. 

    If avoiding wheat, make sure that the soy sauce you use is gluten free. Make sure it says “Tamari” and gluten free on the bottle! 

    If you are avoiding soy, you can use coconut amino acids, or omit entirely. Add an additional ½ teaspoon of salt. 

    If you are avoiding nightshades, you don’t have to use the tomato paste and can either swap out for a nightshade free ketchup or sauce or omit the ingredient entirely. If not using tomato paste or substitute, I would increase the meat and molasses by 50% each. 

    overhead view of two bowls filled with brown sugar baked beans

    Flavor variations 

    Vegetarian / Vegan baked beans 

    To make this a vegetarian and vegan friendly dish, simply omit the meat! If you want to give a bit of that umami flavor to your beans, consider adding a few chopped shiitake mushrooms about halfway through cooking. You could also add chopped red bell peppers to deepen the flavor. 

    Spicy 

    Add some kick to your baked beans with the addition of peppers. Fresh red and green bell peppers can be chopped and diced and added. You can also add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper or chipotle pepper powder for a rich smoky spice. 

    Smoky

    Add about ½ teaspoon of liquid smoke to the recipe to get a rich smoky flavor. 

    Different Meats

    Try making these beans with different meats. Ham, ham hocks, bacon, sausages, chorizo, or even sliced lunch meat all taste amazing in this dish. 

    Baked beans instructions 

    For the full instructions with recipe measurements, please see the recipe card below. 

    Making these beans is a piece of cake! (Piece of beans?) 

    Start by cooking your bacon. I like to use the microwave kind of bacon that cooks up in 60 seconds, but using fresh bacon is also great. No matter which method you use, make sure that the bacon is fully cooked and set it aside. 

    baked bean ingredients in a blue cooking pot before cooking
    overhead view of baked beans in a blue cooking pot after cooking

    Next, drain and rinse the beans. Add them to a large pot. Place the remaining ingredients in the pot and give it a good stir. Add the water, using your best judgment to know how much to add. I typically add about 2 cups of water, but you want the beans to be only just covered with water. 

    Finally, add the bacon.

    Pop this on the stove over medium heat and cook for 60-75 minutes. Make sure you give them a stir every 5 minutes or so to keep things from burning on the bottom of the pan. 

    To make in a slow cooker

    While this recipe is intended for a stove top, you can for sure make these in a slow cooker! Add all the ingredients same as the recipe is written and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. 

    If the beans are too thin after time, remove the lid and continue cooking on high until they are thickened to your liking. 

    However, if they are too thin at any point in cooking, feel free to turn down the heat and add a little bit more water, as needed. 

    a spoon reaching into a bowl overflowing with brown sugar baked beans

    How to store 

    These beans can be made ahead of time and make for great leftovers. 

    Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. 

    Transport these beans in a slow cooker or a crock pot to keep them warm if you are bringing them to a potluck or party. 

    More Recipes to Love

    • cucumber salad in a blue and white bowl with ingredients surrounding it and a fork in the bowl
      Easy + Healthy Cucumber Salad
    • vegan black bean burger on a bun with many toppings is on a white plate with French fries and a glass of soda
      Easy Black Bean Burger - Vegan + Allergy Free
    • summer street corn salad is in a large round white bowl on top of a wood cutting board with different ingredients surrounding it like tomatoes, onion, and cilantro
      Summer Street Corn Salad
    • up close bowl of lemon pasta salad
      Easy Pasta Salad (gluten free + vegan)

    If you try these out, please leave a comment below! This provides helpful feedback to both me and other readers. And if you want more delicious, dietary friendly recipes you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

    Recipe

    brown sugar baked beans in a small bowl with sauce dripping down the side

    Easy Baked Beans

    Quick + easy brown sugar baked beans that you make on the stove top or in a slow cooker! Full of flavor and so adaptable, this is the ultimate summer side dish.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Keyword: allergy friendly, coconut free, dairy free, dinner, easy, egg free, gluten free, nightshade free, nut free, sesame free, soy free, tomato free, vegan, wheat free
    Yield: 5 cups
    Author: Laura // Living Beyond Allergies

    Ingredients

    • 5 cups Beans, drained and rinsed I use 3 cans of beans, about 45 oz
    • 5 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
    • 1 tablespoon molasses
    • ½ tablespoon soy sauce
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ cup bacon see variations in notes
    • 2 cups water

    Instructions

    • Cook your bacon according to package directions. Set aside.
    • Add beans, sugar, spices, tomato paste, soy sauce, molasses, and water to a large pot. Give a stir to combine. Add the bacon.
    • Cook on medium heat for about 60 to 75 minutes or until beans have thickened.
    • Can be served immediately or saved for later. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Allergy Variations:
    Mustard Seed Allergy-  you can omit this ingredient and have no difference in the final product! They taste just as delicious. 
    Avoiding nightshades- you don’t have to use the tomato paste and can either swap out for a nightshade free sauce or omit the ingredient entirely. If not using tomato paste at all, I would increase the meat and molasses by 50%. 
    Soy Allergy-  you can swap for a soy free soy sauce (coconut aminos for example) or omit entirely.
     
    Other variations:
    Vegetarian/vegan, omit the meat.
    Spicy, add chopped red and green bell peppers as well as cayenne pepper.
    Smoky, add ½ teaspoon liquid smoke.
    To make in slow cooker, add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours and high for 3-4, depending on desired consistency.
     
    LivingBeyondAllergies.com

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

    Love this recipe?Mention @livingbeyondallergies or tag #livingbeyondallergies!

    More Recipes for spring and summer time.

    • parmesan potatoes with fresh basil on a baking sheet. a red and white towel is under the baking sheet.
      Parmesan Potatoes
    • a stack of gluten free ice cream sandwiches are on a dark blue plate in front of a glass of milk with a pink straw blurred in the background
      Gluten Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
    • collage of different graduation party recipe ideas with a white text box that reads 22 graduation party recipes
      Graduation Party Recipes - Gluten Free + Vegan
    • a gluten free angel food cake rests on a glass cake stand and is topped with whip cream and berries. a serving spoon is lifting a slice of cake away from the cake.
      Gluten Free Angel Food Cake

    I love when you share my recipes!

    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kari says

      January 03, 2022 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe!! My family loved these beans very much. The flavour is fantastic! I cannot eat mustard or garlic, but even without those two ingredients, the beans were lovely!! Thanks for coming up with such great recipes, and even providing ways to adapt them to the various dietary needs!

      Reply
      • Laura says

        January 03, 2022 at 5:01 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that you loved this recipe! It's a family favorite so your kind words are extra appreciated. And you are so welcome. I love making these recipes that are adaptable because everyone is different but good food is always the goal. 🙂 Thank you!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Connect with me!

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr

    Never miss a recipe! Delivered weekly right to your inbox.

    Thanks!

    Laura, a white woman with red hair, is standing in front of a gray mural with floral details. She is wearing a black top, long Burgundy skirt, and black leather jacket.

    Hi, I’m Laura! Welcome to Living Beyond Allergies, a mix of healthy + indulgent allergy free recipes, plus a sprinkle of health resources. All eaters welcome! To learn more about me, click here!

    Spring Baking

    • a gluten free angel food cake rests on a glass cake stand and is topped with whip cream and berries. a serving spoon is lifting a slice of cake away from the cake.
      Gluten Free Angel Food Cake
    • three carrot cake cupcakes without nuts in a row with swirls of frosting and crushed pumpkin seeds
      Easy Carrot Cake Cupcakes without Nuts
    • a gluten free lemon poppyseed cake tin a bundt shape is resting on a white plate on the kitchen countertop surrounded by a linen towel and lemons
      Gluten Free Lemon Poppyseed Cake
    • single gluten free soft sugar cookie on a dark background surrounded by sprinkles with a bite taken out of the cookie
      Gluten Free Soft Sugar Cookies - Lofthouse Copy

    Most Popular Recipes

    • gluten free nut free granola in a glass bowl on parchment paper
      Easy Gluten Free and Nut Free Granola
    • close up of a pizza covered in tomato free pizza sauce and large pepperoni on a white parchment paper with herbs surrounding it
      Tomato Free Pizza Sauce
    • bowl of brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal
      Brown Sugar Cinnamon Oatmeal
    • close view of tomato free bbq sauce in a jar with a. spoon dipping in the sauce
      Tomato Free BBQ Sauce
    Subscribe for Recipes and More!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Living Beyond Allergies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Nutrition & Allergen Policy

    Recipes by Diet

    • Gluten Free
    • Vegan
    • Dairy Free
    • Egg Free
    • Nut Free
    • Top 9 Free

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    Affiliate links to products I love are sometimes used in articles. I will earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support.

    Copyright © 2023 Living Beyond Allergies