Instant Pot Baked Beans (with slow cooker/stovetop option)

We have discovered a “from scratch” baked beans recipe that our family loves! We make it in the instant pot, but you can also make them in a slow cooker or on the stove top. It will take longer, so plan ahead!

We calculated the cost & it is less than half the price (probably closer to 1/4 of the cost, especiallyif you don’t add bacon) of buying canned baked beans & much better for you (& tastes better, in our opinion!)

(We had originally tried a recipe that was good but required about 14 hours to make, including several hours on the stove top, & then in the oven…too complicated for my tastes!) 😀

INGREDIENTS:

6 slices bacon (leave out if you would rather they be vegetarian or are trying to save money! My meat loving family didn’t notice when I left the bacon out one time!)

1 small yellow onion (you can increase this if you like more)

2 2/3 C white beans (great Northern or Navy beans)

1 C ketchup or tomato sauce (you may wish to add more sweetners if you use the sauce, based on how sweet you like your beans)

1/2 C EACH molasses, honey (or maple syrup) & brown sugar (or sucanut) – basically you want 1 1/2 C of sweeteners, but feel free to adjust to taste

1 Tbsp salt

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Enough water to cover the beans

RECIPE:

Cut up the bacon into bite sized pieces & cook in the same pot you’ll be using (less dishes & more flavor) – in the Instant Pot (IP, use the saute function). While that’s cooking, finely dice your onion & throw it in when the bacon is nearly done.

Rinse the beans & make sure there are no stones. Add to the pot. Add the salt & vinegar. We have found that its better to add the sweeteners & ketchup after the beans have been cooked so they don’t burn.

Add water, at least enough to cover the beans. (In my IP, I fill it to the 10 Cup mark after everything else has been added. It is a good, not too runny consistency this way.)

Set your instant pot for 90 minutes on High pressure & let it naturally release for at least 15 minutes when it’s done.

After releasing the pressure, mix in the ketchup & sweeteners, adjust to taste & Enjoy!

This does make a large batch. It’s perfect for our large family & company, bit we love them & also as leftovers. They also freeze well, so if you want to make a big batch & freeze half, that’s great!

**Note: If using the instant pot, you do not need to soak the beans. However, if you do, it will take less time to cook. I don’t soak the beans.**

**For slow cooker or stove top – I would recommend soaking for 8-24 hours & then cook as you normally would cook white beans (for length of time)… slow cooker I would guess about 8 hours on low, stove top would be less time, bring to a boil, then simmer, checking from time to time for doneness.**