Baked Beans: A Grandma Brown’s Copycat Recipe

the Grandma Brown’s baked beans factory in Mexico, NY closed for good a couple years ago, and I can’t think of anything more sad. 20 times better than Bush’s, Grandma Brown’s beans missing from my grocer’s shelves left a whole in my heart and an empty spot on my plate.

But have no fear, this baked beans copycat recipe will have your summer BBQ’s hopping in no time. This recipe is simple, easy to put together, and proven crowd pleaser. My mom used to secretly serve Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans as a homemade dish to pass and was given the nickname “Bean Queen”. This recipe is good enough to get you your own bean nickname as is, but feel free to doctor them up as you see fit.

Ingredients:

You won’t find anything on this ingredient list that you can’t find at any grocery store. There is a good chance you already have 95% of these ingredients in your pantry.

  • Dried Navy Beans
  • Baking Soda
  • Water
  • Salt
  • Ham
  • Bacon
  • Dark Brown Sugar
  • Onion
  • Bay Leaves
Baked Beans and Bacon in a Dutch oven
Bacon Makes Everything better

How to Make Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans

Wash your beans and remove any debris that may have made it into the packaging.

Pour the beans into a large stock pot and add water until the water line is a couple inches above the beans. Bring to a boil, then let the beans boil for 10 min. Cover the pot, remove from heat, and let the beans soak over night.

Navy Beans soaking in a pot of water
Tell your beans that you love them, then let them soak overnight

3. Strain the rested beans and wash them well. Move the beans to a dutch oven, then add the baking soda, ham, bacon, salt, brown sugar, onion, apple cider vinegar, and bay leaf. Stir well

4. Add water to the dutch oven until the beans and other ingredients are just covered. Place the cover on your dutch oven, then bake for 5-6 hours on 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Every hour, stir the beans. Add more water if the beans are drying out, but the final product should be thick

Baked Beans in a Dutch Oven
Grab a plate, they’re ready!
Baked Beans in a Dutch Oven

Copycat Grandma Brown’s Baked Beans

Don't do without just because Grandma Browns shut their doors. This copycat recipe is an homage to the Upstate New York summer BBQ staple, Grandma Brown's Baked Beans. While you won't find those signature brown and yellow can's on your grocery store shelves, you can still put their beans on your plate.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Barbeque

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Lb Navy Bean (Dried)
  • 1 Tsp Baking Soda
  • Water
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1/3 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
  • 3 Oz Ham (Diced)
  • 3 Oz Bacon (Uncooked)
  • 1 Med Onion (Chopped)
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Wash your beans and remove any debris that may have made it into the packaging
  • Pour the beans into a large stock pot and add water until the water line is a couple inches above the beans. Bring to a boil, then let the beans boil for 10 min. Cover the pot, remove from heat, and let the beans soak over night.
  • Strain the rested beans and wash them well. Move the beans to a dutch oven, then add the baking soda, ham, bacon, salt, brown sugar, onion, apple cider vinegar, and bay leaf. Stir well
  • Add water to the dutch oven until the beans and other ingredients are just covered. Place the cover on your dutch oven, then bake for 5-6 hours on 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Every hour, stir the beans. Add more water if the beans are drying out, but the final product should be thick
Keyword Baked Beans, beans

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