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Soul food baked beans are a classic Southern barbecue side dish that can be served with just about anything. They are perfectly seasoned with beef broth and have mouth-watering, delicious soul food flavors.

These homemade beans will have everyone around the cookout table begging for the recipe!

Black Folks Southern Soul Food Baked Beans

What are soul food baked beans?

With an added twist of soul food flavors and seasonings that everyone loves, this recipe is a fresh take on grandma’s old-fashioned baked beans.

Combine dried navy beans with the sweet flavors of yellow onions, molasses, and a blend of magical soul food seasonings like garlic, paprika, cinnamon, and mustard. Add in sauces like BBQ and Worcester to create a beautiful homemade dish of soul food baked beans. It’s a burst of unique flavors and a hearty meal!

Black history origin of baked beans

A little lesson in Black history: Why is Boston famous for baked beans? The answer is not something Boston should want to be proud to be famous for. The origin of Boston baked beans is tied to the 18th-century triangular trade of enslaved people. Boston became known for its export of rum, which was made from distilled fermented molasses. The molasses was also added to baked bean recipes, leading to the creation of Boston baked beans.

What ingredients do you need to make Southern soul food baked beans?

Do you have to soak the beans overnight?

For this recipe, soak the navy beans overnight and boil them the next day to soften.

Ingredients

Brown sugar in this recipe helps create a thicker texture that perfectly balances the delectably sweet and spicy flavors. With the addition of Worcestershire sauce, molasses, barbecue sauce, diced vegetables, and smoked paprika, this meal, usually served as a Southern side dish, becomes a gorgeous dark color infused with a smoky, spicy flavor.

Measurements for the recipe can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Navy beans and beef broth – Essential for creating the foundational flavor and texture in soul food baked beans.
Yellow onion, green bell pepper, and tomato paste – Lay the flavor groundwork and add textural depth to the dish.
Worcestershire sauce, molasses, brown sugar, and barbecue sauce – These ingredients work harmoniously to create a rich depth of sweetness, tang, and savoriness that elevates the beans from a simple side to a memorable part of Southern cuisine.
Salt – Lays the foundational layer of flavor, enhancing the natural tastes within the beans and broth.
Black pepper – Introduces a subtle heat that wakes up the palate, ensuring every bite is memorable.
Garlic – Injects a punch of flavor that complements the beans beautifully.
Smoked paprika – Adds a smokiness dimension synonymous with authentic soul food, bridging the gap between simple beans and a comforting, rich dish.
Cinnamon – This might seem an unlikely candidate, yet its sweet warmth complements the savory elements beautifully, adding an unexpected twist.
Ground mustard – Rounds off the flavor profile with its tangy kick, bringing balance and depth to the baked beans.

How to make Southern baked beans

This recipe is a fresh take on a classic Southern dish with an added twist of soul food seasonings and flavors. After soaking and boiling the dry beans, the diced vegetables lay the groundwork. Then, the combination of brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, barbecue sauce, and soul food seasonings truly transforms the dish.

Step-by-step guided instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Soak the beans overnight in water for 8 hours.
Pro tip: You can also quick-soak them by adding them to a pot of boiling water for five minutes before letting them sit in the hot water for an hour.
Discard the water and rinse the beans.
Bring the broth and the beans to a boil over high heat.
Reduce the heat and simmer for an hour.
Mix the seasonings and sauces in a bowl and set the mixture aside.
Drain the cooked beans and reserve the broth from the beans.
Pour into a baking dish the cooked beans, sauce mix, reserved broth, and diced vegetables.
Cover the baking dish with a lid or aluminum foil, and bake the beans in the oven for 10 minutes.
Reduce the oven temperature and bake for 6 hours.
Remove the baked beans from the oven, stir, serve, and enjoy!

For quicker ways to make homemade baked beans:

Do you cover baked beans while baking?

Cover this homemade baked beans recipe with the baking dish lid or aluminum foil while baking in the oven.

How to thicken Southern baked beans

If you followed this recipe and your beans are watery, you likely added too much broth. Or maybe you omitted the brown sugar, molasses, or BBQ sauce. Here are three easy ways to fix it!

Molasses – You’ll want to add molasses to your baked beans for old-fashioned flavor and thickness. It adds a rich brown color and a unique taste that most people have grown to love.
Brown sugar – It’s a dry thickener. Adding this ingredient will increase the flavor of your beans and give them a bit of sweetness.
BBQ sauce – Additionally, you will want to use BBQ sauce in this recipe. A good amount of this will provide a subtle spiciness and richness and does wonders in thickening the beans.

What to serve with baked beans

When you’re ready to serve up the best Black BBQ menu, pile the baked beans onto your plate with your favorite soul food cookout sides!

Other favorite soul food sides to serve with baked beans include Southern potato salad, soul food macaroni salad, Southern soul food coleslaw, and Soul food homemade cornbread.

How to transport baked beans to a potluck

When baking the beans, preferably use a casserole or baking dish with a lid. This way, it’s easy to transport your soul food baked beans later. Otherwise, a sheet of handy aluminum foil will suffice to cover your baking dish for transfer and potluck sharing.

How far in advance can you make homemade baked beans?

You can make this recipe 3 to 4 days in advance. The flavor improves as the beans sit in the sauce and marinate, so making them a few days early is ideal!

Baked beans can be frozen, thawed, and reheated again in the oven or slow cooker. They can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.