Homemade Maple Baked Beans (Stovetop Recipe)

Name: Maple Baked Beans on the Stovetop (20 Minutes)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1/2 medium sweet onion, diced small; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 of a 6-oz. can tomato paste; 2 15-oz. cans navy beans; 1/2 cup water; 3 tbsp maple syrup; 1/2 tbsp molasses; 1 tsp dijon mustard; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·Leave a Review

These simple homemade maple baked beans come together quickly on the stovetop and are a delicious side dish or topping for hot dogs or toast! Plant-forward, sweet, savory, and made from whole foods... a classic case of nourishing comfort food.

Homemade maple baked beans in beige serving bowl with gold spoon, next to golden-yellow linen, and sourdough dipped into the beans.

I'm not about to tell you you're NEVER going to want canned baked beans again, because there they're nostalgic and pretty darn good.

But let me just make a quick case for a homemade baked beans recipe. With a few pantry staples and 20 minutes, you can make your own sweet and savory, slightly smoky baked beans on the stovetop without that much effort. Still using canned beans, you can get a fresh taste without worrying about soaking or a long cooking time (though you totally can, and this method is also very good).

They taste so fresh, and are an incredibly cozy way to get in some extra fiber and plants in your day.

I LOVE these baked beans on toasted sourdough, and to be frank, they make quite the hot dog topper, too ;). All around, this easy baked beans recipe is the perfect side dish to go with BBQ in summer or as a warm, nourishing side for homemade whole roasted chicken in winter.

Jump to:

Key Ingredients & Notes
Substitutions & Variations
Maple Baked Beans Step-by-Step Instructions
Serving Ideas
Baked Beans FAQs
Related
📖 Recipe

Key Ingredients & Notes

Baked beans ingredients including navy beans, black pepper, salt, tomato paste, garlic, onions, smoked paprika, and maple syrup. The ingredients sit on a blue and white surface.

Molasses and Dijon mustard on blue and white surface.

Navy beans - These will be the main ingredient! Great Northern beans would also work in a pinch. We're using canned beans here to keep this recipe simple, but if you're cooking beans from dried, you'll need about three cups cooked.
Smoked paprika - For creating a smoky flavor.
Molasses & maple syrup - Balance out the savory, smoky flavors with a bit of natural sweetness inspired by canned baked beans.

Substitutions & Variations

Spicier - Use hot smoked paprika instead of sweet, or add hot sauce. I use this hot pimentón (aka hot smoked paprika) (affiliate link) and love it.
Bacon - If you're not vegan or vegetarian, simply cut a strip or two of bacon into 1-inch pieces, and sauté with the onions and garlic. You can drain the fat if you'd like, but I highly recommend leaving at least a little bit of bacon fat in there for cooking the remaining ingredients. It's so good!
Sweetener - Feel free to adjust the amount of molasses in the recipe, or swap in dark brown sugar if you prefer.

Maple Baked Beans Step-by-Step Instructions

Navy beans, drained and rinsed, in clear glass bowl on light blue and white surface.

Step 1: Peel and mince the garlic (I love using a microplane!), dice the onions small, and drain & rinse the navy beans.

Sautéed onions and garlic in tomato paste in small pot with blue handle.

Step 2: Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium or large pot or dutch oven. Sauté garlic and onions until soft, then add a pinch of salt and tomato paste. Sauté for another minute to combine all the flavors.

Navy beans, smoked paprika, tomato paste, onions, and garlic in small pot with bamboo stirring spoon.

Step 3: Add in the navy beans, mustard, pure maple syrup, molasses, water, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, bring the pot to a boil, then reduce to a simmer over low-medium heat.

Homemade maple baked beans in small blue pot, done cooking, with bamboo spoon. The pot is resting on a yellow and white windowpane print towel.

Step 4: Allow the baked beans to simmer, covered, for 15 minutes during which they will thicken and all the flavors will meld. After the 15 minutes are up, remove the lid and remove the pot of beans from heat. Stir the beans, and once slightly cooled, taste and add more salt if needed. Serve immediately!

Homemade maple baked beans in beige serving bowl with gold spoon, next to golden-yellow linen, and sourdough slices on the side.

Serving Ideas

Toast: Beans on toast is another comfort food classic! When it comes to toast, we are obsessed with our local sourdough bakery.
Baked sweet potato: Bake a sweet potato, cut it in half, add a little butter, olive oil, or coconut oil, and plop these baked beans right on top. This is one of our favorite dinners when we need to get by with pantry staples, and it is super filling and delicious!
Side dish: Throw a pot of these homemade baked beans on the stove to simmer while you cook a meal of roasted veggies such as sweet roasted delicata squash (complements the maple perfectly), healthy mashed potatoes, and your main dish of choice. I love them with these baked turkey meatballs without breadcrumbs.

Baked Beans FAQs

What kind of beans are best for homemade baked beans?

I use navy beans in this recipe, but cannellini or great northern beans would also be good.

How do I store leftover maple baked beans?

To store: Store the beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You can easily reheat them on the stovetop or in the microwave.
To freeze: To freeze these baked beans, place them in an airtight container (filling it full, with very little air space), and store in the freezer for up to three months. When you're ready to eat, let them thaw in the fridge, and reheat on the stovetop or microwave.

You might also love some of our other favorite side dishes!

Did you make these homemade maple baked beans? Don't forget to leave a star rating 🌟 and comment below, and tag me on Instagram and Pinterest so I can see what you made!