This easy, vegetarian (and vegan) baked beans recipe is satisfyingly savory without being overly sweet. Most brands of canned baked beans contain about 12g (or 1 tablespoon) of sugar per 1/2 cup serving. In addition, most recipes call for bacon, which is a processed meat. This recipe has neither, making it low in added sugar and free of meat of any kind. The small amount added sugar is in the form of 1 tablespoon of molasses. Molasses is still sugar, and although it contains healthy minerals, let’s be real, you’re not going to get a significant amount of from 1 tablespoon divided by 6 servings. 

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Vegetarian Baked Beans

Easy homemade baked beans without the meat or extra sugar.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword barbecue, Beans, dairy-free, dinner, easy, one pan, plant-based, summer, vegan

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or other cooking oil
• 1 cup onion, diced about 1 small to medium onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 15-ounce cans beans, rinsed and drained such as pinto and white beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes,
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth or more as needed
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon reduced sodium tamari or soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard or 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke optional

Instructions

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil, then onions and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Simmer on low heat for 30-45 minutes. Add more vegetable broth as needed to keep the beans from drying out, until you reach the desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.