Simple, savory and sugar free, these baked beans are cooked in the oven with bacon, smoked sausage, flavorful broth and a touch of seasoning, resulting in a delicious dish that everyone will love! Makes a wonderful addition to cookouts, summer picnics or a filling dinnertime meal with friends and family.
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Each season has their traditions. For instance, ice skating, sledding and cozy blankets in the winter. While it’s the opposite in the summer — swimming, gardening and hiking. Each period also comes along with traditional seasonal foods. Lemonade and grilled chicken are always common favorites in our household. We also enjoy potato salad, fresh strawberries picked right from our backyard and a blueberry fruit crisp come July. But what we never ate much of were the ever popular baked beans.
“Why?”, you may ask. Because baked bean recipes are always loaded with sugar. Molasses. Barbecue sauce. Ketchup. Brown sugar. You name it, it had it.
Seems like a loads of beans, if you ask me.
Oh yes, I had to go there.
When I began adding dried beans into our meals this past winter, I realized baked beans didn’t have to be full of sugar. They could be flavorful and delicious using only savory ingredients. That way those that can’t have sugar or limit their intake, can still partake of a tasty side dish of baked beans. In this recipe for homemade baked beans, the taste and flavor comes from the seasonings, onion and sautéed meats like smoked sausage and salty bacon.
We enjoy serving a side of beans with our meals year around. It pairs well with chicken or beef dishes, a fresh green salad and a slice of bread. Next time you’re invited to a summer gathering, cook up a batch of these sugar free baked beans. They are certain to a be a hit that everyone can appreciate.
Which Types of Beans Do You Use for Baked Beans?
Typically, navy beans are used to make baked beans. If you don’t have those on hand, great northern beans or even cannellini beans will work well when making quicker baked beans.
What Kind of Beans are the Healthiest to Eat?
Common varieties of beans include navy beans, black beans, pinto beans, great northern beans, lentils, kidney beans and lima beans. Each type of these beans have tremendous health benefits including helping to reduce blood pressure, giving you lots of energy and keeping blood sugar levels steady. Beans are also a great source of protein, iron and vitamin C.
Are Baked Beans High in Fiber?
Baked beans are a terrific source of fiber. According to the Treasures of Health Nutrition Manual, one cup of beans contains 6-7 grams of fiber. The soluble fiber in beans works wonders to help prohibit constipation and other gut-related issues.
What is the Quick Method of Cooking Dried Beans?
Save yourself hours of time by using the quick soak method of cooking dried beans. In a stainless steel pot, add about 6 cups of water and the dried beans. Bring the water to a boil. Boil the beans for 1 minute. Remove pot from heat, cover and soak for 1 hour.
How to Use Leftover Baked Beans
Don’t toss your leftovers! There are plenty of ideas for leftover baked beans. Try tossing them into soup recipes or a pot of chili. Mix them into a casserole, serve them on top of your favorite bbq beef sandwich or sprinkle them over nachos and cheese.
Can Baked Beans Be Frozen?
Yes! I like to make up a big batch of these homemade baked beans, then freeze them in my 1-cup souper cubes. When we want to add a side dish of beans to our meal, I pop them out of the molds and heat the beans back up with a little bit of chicken broth. Delicious!
Alternatively, you can fill a plastic freezer bag with the leftover beans, label the bag, then store in the freezer until you are ready to eat them.
How to Make Sugar Free Baked Beans
This baked beans recipe from dry beans is a hearty and nutritious side dish that pairs well with grilled meats, roasted chicken, chuck roast and more. Perfect to share at large gatherings or just a healthy dinner with the family.
Serves 6
Ingredients
6 cups water
1 pound (about 2 heaping cups) dried navy beans or great northern beans
2 tablespoons oil or lard
1 cup smoked sausage, diced
1 onion, diced
4 pieces cooked bacon, chopped
3 2/3 cups chicken broth, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions
In a stainless steel pot, add water and dried beans. Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove pot from heat and cover with a lid. Allow to soak for 1 hour.
Strain water from beans. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350° F. In a dutch oven over medium heat, add oil. Sauté onions and sausage until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in beans, cooked bacon, salt, pepper and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover dutch oven and transfer to the oven. Cook for 1 hour, until the beans are almost tender.
Remove lid and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Take out dutch oven and set on stove top over medium low heat. Add remaining 2/3 cup of chicken broth. Cover with lid and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring frequently until liquid has become thick and creamy. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Low Sugar Baked Beans Recipe
If you make this sugar free baked beans recipe and love it, come back and give it a 5 star rating! Share in the comments below what is your favorite part of this from scratch recipe.
More From Scratch Side Dish Recipes
Dinner Rolls With Freshly Milled Flour
Savory Baked Beans
Simple, savory and sugar free, these baked beans and cooked in the oven with bacon, smoked sausage, flavorful broth and a touch of seasoning, resulting in a delicious dish that everyone will love! Makes a wonderful addition to cookouts, summer picnics or a filling dinnertime meal with friends and family.
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 1 pound (about 2 heaping cups) dried navy beans or great northern beans
- 2 tablespoons oil or lard
- 1 cup smoked sausage, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 pieces cooked bacon, chopped
- 3 2/3 cups chicken broth, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a stainless steel pot, add water and dried beans. Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove pot from heat and cover with a lid. Allow to soak for 1 hour.
- Strain water from beans. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350° F. In a dutch oven over medium heat, add oil. Sauté onions and sausage until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in beans, cooked bacon, salt, pepper and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover dutch oven and transfer to the oven. Cook for 1 hour, until the beans are almost tender.
- Remove lid and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Take out dutch oven and set on stove top over medium low heat. Add remaining 2/3 cup of chicken broth. Cover with lid and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring frequently until liquid has become thick and creamy. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
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