Homemade Pork and Beans is easy to make with a savory and sweet sauce flavored with brown sugar, molasses, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce.
My recipe for Southern Baked Beans has been one of the most popular recipes on the website for a long time and this dish is quite a similar Bean side dish, but made easily on the stovetop. Try out my Roast Pork and Beans too!
Sabrina’s Pork and Beans Recipe
This is sure to become your favorite Pork and Beans recipe ever! The dish is flavored to perfection to blend smoky, sweet, and savory taste. Traditional beans like this recipe are great to serve at cookouts. You can dish up servings to go with your favorite BBQ dishes like hamburgers or Pulled Pork. Your guests are sure to love this version of the classic side.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 3 cups dried navy beans
- 12 cups water , boiling
- 6 cups water
- 1 tablespoon Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup brown sugar , packed
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 pound thick-cut bacon , chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Add beans and boiling water to a large pot and cover.
- Let sit overnight.
- Drain beans and add 6 cups of water.
- Cook on medium-high heat for 60 minutes.
- Drain navy beans a second time.
- Add salt, molasses, mustard, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, bacon, and chicken broth, and stir well.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 60 minutesor until beans are tender.
Nutrition
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Table of contents
Chef’s Note: Prepping dried beans
Because this recipe is made from scratch, it does take several hours to make. However, just because the recipe takes some time doesn’t mean it is at all difficult. The only reason it’s so long is because we are cooking dry white beans. The beans have to soak in water overnight to help them expand before you start cooking them. Then it takes another couple of hours of cooking so that they can fully absorb the amazing flavors of the hearty sauce. The good news is you won’t even have to be in the kitchen most of the time. Just set the pot over low heat and leave it to simmer.
How to Store
- Serve: Don’t leave Pork and Beans out at room temperature for more than 2 hours after cooking.
- Store: If you have leftovers, you can put them in an airtight container or cover them in plastic wrap to store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: This recipe can also be kept in the freezer for 1-2 months.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- To start the slow cooker version, you’ll still need to soak the beans in liquid overnight.
- Then drain the beans, and add them to the slow cooker with 4 cups of water.
- Cover the cooker and turn it on low for 6-8 hours.
- Add the remaining ingredients on top with the bacon already seared.
- Mix, then turn the cooker to high for 30 minutes to warm the sauce.
- Serve immediately, or leave the slow cooker on low to keep the dish warm.
Variations
- Tomato sauce: For a thicker sauce with more tomato flavor you can mix in a 6 ounce can of tomato sauce along with the rest of the liquid ingredients.
- Onions: For some extra savory flavor in the dish you can add onions to the sauce. Slice yellow onion into small pieces and sauté them in oil until translucent. Add ½ cup onion mixture to the beans along with the rest of the sauce.
- BBQ sauce: You can introduce smokey and sweet flavors to the beans with BBQ sauce. Or, try my El Pollo Loco BBQ Black Beans for another popular bean BBQ recipe.
- Spices: You can add your favorite seasonings to the sauce ingredients. Chili powder, paprika, onion salt, oregano, cumin, or cinnamon would taste great. You could also add a few minced garlic cloves to the savory sauce.
- Peppers: Chop up some green bell peppers for a sweet vegetable addition. Or, you could add in some heat with sliced jalapeño pepper.
- Pork: Instead of bacon, you can use a cut of boneless pork shoulder in the recipe. Cook the pork in a separate pan, then cut it into pieces and add chunks of pork to the dish.
- Beans: I made this recipe with navy beans, but you can try other beans of your choice. Kidney beans, pinto beans, or cannellini beans would all work well.
Related Recipes
More Bean Recipes for a Summer Cookout
The following photos were included on previous versions of this post:
I just made this recipe and I love it! I never have been fond of pork n beans from a can so I have always “doctored” mine up, but, from now on, I will be using this recipe. Thanks so much!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe Susan and thanks for the great feedback and five star review!
I have made a lot of pork and beans, so mainly when I poke around for recipes, it’s just to remind myself of the ratios. I can’t ever leave well enough alone, so I did add some things (instead of just chicken, I used Knorr chicken and tomato bouillon, a caramelized onion and about 1/4 cup of oyster sauce. Stop looking at me like that). But this is a great recipe! I love how much bacon it calls for, and how simple it is. The soak time is perfect, the beans are creamy and rich, and it’s just an all around solid recipe. I will be keeping this one.
Had to laugh at your bacon comment. I’m kinda known for my love for bacon. Browse my recipes with bacon when you have time! https://dinnerthendessert.com/?s=bacon. Appreciate your comments Hilary and thanks for the five star review.
Excellent Recipe! Loved it! Also Pork and beans in the Can are so expensive now. I get much more bang for my buck cooking them this way and it makes so much!
Thank you!
We are snow bound this weekend so a pot of beans sounded just right. Made the recipe as printed but I did add 2 Tbs of apple cider vinegar. Cuts the sweetness a bit but also adds a nice tang.
Absolutely the best pork and beans I have ever had. I can’t go back to canned again. It was very easy to make.
Just wonderful. Thank you.
You’re welcome Alicia and thanks for the five star review!
I thought it was way too sweet and I cut the brown sugar in half.
That’s absolutely fine to do. It’s important for recipes to match the tastes of the Chef!!!
Can you make in a crockpot?
Thanks for asking Sara. Try my Slow Cooker Pork and Beans Recipe by clicking here: https://dinnerthendessert.com/slow-cooker-pork-and-beans/
Absolutely delicious. I made smaller amount but used the same ingredients. It tastes exactly the way I wanted. Everone loved it. This will be my go-to recipe when I want a bean dish. Thank you.
this recipe is delicious. I rendered my bacon a bit and then added a little white onion. more than a half but less than a cup. very nice! this recipe is saved. thank you for posting
Scrumptious. Easy. Perfect.
would you suggest this recipe for a instapot ? If so any instructions would be appreciated. I have yet to try this as written but with the heat wave I’d like to keep the kitchen cool.
Wow, these were really great and super simple. I thought that it was way too much bacon at first, but it was perfect in the end. I cheated and used canned navy beans instead, so I had to guess at the quantity… it seems one 16 oz can per 2 servings was about right.