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These Healthy Homemade Baked Beans, are a comforting side dish with a subtle smoky flavour. They are lower in salt and sugar than commercial canned baked beans, making them the perfect side dish for the whole family to enjoy.
To avoid any confusion, let me clarify that this recipe is loosely based on British-style Baked Beans, Heinz being the most famous brand, rather than the American-Style Baked Beans which have a darker, thicker and sweeter sauce and often have added foods such as bacon or sausage.
I do however say loosely based and as one reader said:
If you are trying to fool your kids (that these are Heinz baked beans) don't bother. On the other hand, if you want a really simple to make, much healthier, tastier, beany 'stuff' to put on toast or baked potatoes (or probably many other scenarios) then these are absolutely banging
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Ingredient Information (with Alternative Suggestions)
The full list of ingredients and amounts can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post. This section gives information on each ingredient and suggests alternatives if required.
- Olive Oil
- Garlic
- Passata: (Pureed and strained tomatoes.) Usually sold in tall glass bottles or cartons. It's 100% tomato and is a lot smoother than crushed tomatoes. You can find it in most supermarkets.
- Tomato Paste
- Smoked Paprika: Infuses a sweet, smoky essence into the beans, elevating the overall taste profile. Don't substitute it with paprika, it won't taste the same.
- Vegetable/Chicken Stock: Use homemade vegetable stock or very low salt stock if cooking for a baby / young child. You can also use chicken stock if you aren't vegetarian/vegan.
- Beans: Most commercial baked beans use haricot (navy) beans, which can be found canned or dried, depending on your location.
- Canned Navy beans are convenient as they don't require soaking and pre-cooking. In the UK, they are easily found in most supermarkets, but I've not found them in Australia.
- If canned navy beans aren't available, you can use dried one. These need to be soaked and cooked until soft before use.
- Navy beans can be substituted with Cannellini beans, which are meatier but look different from commercial baked beans. Pinto or kidney beans can also be used.
Step-by-Step Instructions (with Images)
This section features step-by-step photos for visual reference. The complete recipe can be found by scrolling to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Despite the name, this dish is not baked, instead, it is made on the stovetop. It is simple to prepare but does take around thirty minutes to cook.
- Soak and cook dried beans according to packaging (if using dried beans)
- Saute minced garlic in a little olive oil, over low heat, add smoked paprika and stir.
- Add the passata, tomato paste, stock and vinegar. Simmer the tomato sauce for around 20 minutes (until the sharp taste of the tomato is gone and the sauce has thickened
- Add the beans, Simmer for a further 10 mins, taste and season accordingly.
Top Tips
- Don't skimp on the cook time: Allow the sauce to simmer for at least 20 mins to create a rich tomato sauce and to reduce the acidity. At the start of cooking the sauce can taste quite sharp. However, after it simmers away for 20-30 mins the sharpness reduces, the sauce thickens and it tastes delicious.
- Taste and Season / Balance: If at the end of cooking you think the sauce still needs balancing, you can try adding a little sugar and salt, starting with a pinch at a time.
- Do not add salt or sugar if making for a baby/toddler, if you feel you would like to add a little sweetness try adding a little apple puree (apple sauce).
- Other ways to add sweetness is to sauté some chopped onion, celery and carrots. Puree them and add it to the sauce at the start of cooking.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate - Allow homemade baked beans to cool before transferring to a sturdy airtight container. Refrigerator for up to two days.
- Freeze - Cool to room temperature before freezing. Place into a sturdy airtight container (or several small containers.) Leave a bit of space at the top of the container to allow for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw in the refrigerator and re-heat on the stove top or microwave.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, these baked beans are suitable for babies from 6 months+, if they are developmentally ready for finger foods. However, there are some considerations:
Use homemade or very low sodium stock/broth.
If using dried beans, cook them until they are soft enough to easily smoosh between your thumb and forefinger.
If using canned beans, choose ones labeled "no salt added" or "low sodium" and rinse them before adding to the sauce.
Mash or flatten the beans when serving to reduce the risk of choking.
As with all foods make sure baby is sitting upright at the table and supervised at all times while eating.
Serve these beans like you would commercial baked beans. Why not try...
Beans on Toast
Side with fish goujons
Side with sausages and mash
Baked potato filling
Quesadilla filling
Omelette filling
More Bean Recipes
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Healthy Baked Beans
Ingredients
Dried Beans
- 200g (1 cup) Dried navy beans (small white beans)
Canned Beans
- 2 x 600g (10.5oz) Can Haricot (Navy) beans (drained weight 195g/ 6.8oz per can)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 3 teaspoon Garlic, minced
- 3 teaspoon Smoked paprika * See Notes
- 500g (2 cups) Passata
- 2 tablespoon Tomato paste
- 250ml (1 cup) Vegetable/Chicken Stock *See Notes
- 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Soak and cook dried beans according to the packaging. (skip this step if using canned beans)
- Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and allow to sizzle but be careful not to burn.
- Reduce heat to low, add the smoked paprika and stir.
- Add the passata, puree, stock and vinegar then simmer for around 20 mins (until the sharp taste of tomato has gone and the sauce has thickened.)
- Add the beans and simmer for a further 10 mins.
- Season to taste (SEE NOTES)
Hollie
Great recipe, looking forward to making this for my 6 month old, when someone freezes this recipe please let us know how it turned out after defrosting.
Amy
Thanks, Hollie. I am slowly working my way through my old recipes to update and check freezing ability. Although I haven't frozen these I'm sure they would freeze well. Just freeze on the day you cook them (once completely cooled)
Sarah-Beth
Just made these- had to use cannolini beans instead, but tastes delicious! I'm going to add some more paprika and some chilli next time, but the basic recipe is good, much healthier than canned. I wouldn't say it tastes exactly like heindz but still very good. 10/10!
Amy
Brilliant, so glad you liked them! - I always up the smoked paprika in this recipe because we all love it so much. Chilli would be fab too!
Heidi
Hi there! I am just about to make these but I have a packet of dried haricot beans, not tinned! Do you know how I can prepare them so I can use them in this recipe instead of tinned ones?
Amy
Hi Heidi, I'm so sorry that I am just getting back to you now. We moved house last weekend and I got behind on my messages and emails. I seemed to have missed your comment. If using dried beans you will want to cook them before using them in the recipe. You will probably need to soak overnight and then boil for around 45 mins. The packaging should tell you.
Linda
Fabulous recipe!!! In Australia I could only get cannalini beans and butter beans ( big white beans ) so I used those mixed together. Really lovely recipe, easy and quick and delicious on toast!! Thank you
Amy
Hi Linda, so glad you like them! I live in Australia now but haven't made them since moving here. I will have to try them with the cannalini beans - yum! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Lyn
I've just made these, they are different but tasty! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, I am diabetic, cook everything fresh so I know what goes in, and avoid sugar, so I find Heinz beans too sweet. I find these very healthy and will be passing on the recipe to all my friends in Cyprus where I now live. Thank you X
Amy
Hi Lyn, So happy you liked them and thanks so much for sharing with your friends! Thanks for taking the time to comment, it really means a lot 🙂
Nicole
Cannot wait to try these. I have currently downloaded a few recipes and found this one. Love the no sugar. I'm trying to cook more and more from scratch. Much healthier... thanks
Amy
Thanks Nicole, I hope you enjoy them. We love these beans!
Lorna White
My fussy little man didn't like the beans sobs did the sauce with spaghetti instead and he is currently shovelling it in his mouth. So also good as spaghetti sauce
Amy
Hi Lorna, great idea! Glad he likes the sauce with spaghetti even though the beans weren't a hit!
Arrica
I am wanting to try these but I've never heard of passata. I googled it and it says it's tomato purée but then I see that mentioned separately so clearly it's different, can you explain it for me please? Thanks.
Amy
Hi Arrica, sorry I think this recipe has got lost in translation. Tomato puree (UK) is often known as tomato paste in other countries. Passata is sieved tomatoes.
Lorna
Very rarely have baked beans as I am the only one that eats them and worry about wasting them, really fancied some tonight and had the ingredients in the cupboard so I made them. No need to worry about waste as they are so yummy that I have scoffed the lot!!!!
Amy
Excellent, so glad you liked them! They are pretty addictive!
Liz
Delish!!! Had to improvise a bit, and use navy beans that I had on hand, and also added some chopped up bacon, and the flavour was amazing! My pickly little eater loved them. Thanks for sharing!
Amy
Oh yum! So glad they got the picky eater approval!
Becca steele
These are great - just making them right now! Do you think they'll freeze well? ?
Amy
Thank you Becca! Once cool, ransfer to a freezable container and freeze for up to 3 months 🙂
Becca steele
Just so you know my 8 and a half month old Finn loved these! I tried a tin of low sugar/salt Heinz beans a couple of weeks ago and he wasn't that bothered but he wolfed yours down. So easy to make too and much healthier! I love this blog 🙂
Amy
Great! Glad little Finn loved them!! Thank you for your kind comment 🙂
Becky, Cuddle Fairy
I love it! What a great way to cut out the added ingredients! I had always wondered which means are used in the tin of beans - I will look for haricot beans.
Kylie
Love the no sugar no salt!
Amy
Thank Kylie 🙂
Katerina
They look super tasty! I love beans more than lentils!
Amy
Thanks Katerina. I'm a big lentil fan but love beans too x
Alison
These look lovely. I shall have to try them as the ordinary ones are too sweet
Amy
I find the ordinary ones too sweet as well. I think you will like these 😉
Sarah
These look like normal baked beans, which is great. My kids love baked beans but would love to have a healthy version, must give these a try! Thanks for sharing x
Amy
Thanks Sarah. They do taste different but good! I hope they go down well, let me know!