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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Dinner ยป Sides

    Easy British Baked Beans

    Published: Aug 18, 2022 by Neil 14 Comments

    34 shares
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    Easy British baked beans. Homemade tasty baked beans in just 15 minutes from just 5 ingredients. So much healthier than canned beans!

    Easy British baked beans served on two slices of wholemeal toast on a white plate. Beans in a saucepan, knife and fork and salt and pepper in the background.

    This easy british baked beans recipe is one you can easily make from just a handful of store cupboard ingredients.

    You can choose to have your British baked beans on toast for lunch (my favourite) or as part of a full English breakfast.

    Baked beans also make the perfect side dish and are also an excellent filling for a baked jacket potato.

    These baked beans are suitable for vegetarian diets and can easily be made vegan (see below).

    Baked beans are often the ultimate comfort food. But rather than shop bought ones this great recipe means you can easily make your own!

    Two slices of baked beans on toast. Saucepan of baked beans and salt and pepper cellars in the background.

    This best British baked beans recipe serves 2 but the quantities can easily be changed to cater for more and for the whole family.

    I find that making my own homemade baked beans is actually often cheaper than buying canned ones (Heinz being the most famous).

    Not only that if you actually look closely at a tin of Heinz british baked beans ingredients you'll see that it contains sugar.

    Here I replace the sugar with a couple of teaspoons of honey. That's all that you need to sweeten it up a little.

    You can choose to leave the honey out of course or put more in if you want it sweeter.

    This British baked beans recipe can also easily be made Vegan by substituting the honey with a suitable vegan alternative.

    Birds eye view of Easy British Baked Beans on two slices of toast. Knife and fork to the side. Saucepan of homemade beans and salt and pepper cellars above.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • FAQ's
    • More Bean Recipes For You To Try
    • ๐Ÿ“‹ Easy British Baked Beans Recipe
    • Nutrition Label
    • Rate The Recipe

    Ingredients

    All of the ingredients to make easy British baked beans laid out on a table.
    • Tomato Passata
    • Tomato Paste
    • Honey
    • Smoked Paprika
    • Cannellini Beans
    • Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make these easy British baked beans:

    Tomato passata and tomato paste heated together in a saucepan with a wooden spoon.

    Step 1

    • Heat the tomato passata and tomato paste together in a saucepan until warmed.
    Honey and smoked paprika stirred into saucepan of tomato passata and tomato paste.

    Step 2

    • Stir in the honey and smoked paprika. Continue to heat gently.
    Cannellini beans stirred into tomato sauce.

    Step 3

    • Stir in canellini beans into sauce.
    Home made British baked beans cooked in a saucepan with salt and pepper cellars above.

    Step 4

    • Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add extra honey if required.
    Home made baked beans in a saucepan with a serving spoon at the front. Beans served on two slices of toast behind the saucepan.

    Step 5

    • Serve your baked beans on toast (or how you would like them!)

    Substitutions

    • Tomato Passata - any kind of pureed tomatoes will do.
    • Tomato Paste - any kind of basic tomato paste will do. Add more if you want to increase the sauce thickness.
    • Honey - to make vegan use an alternative like maple syrup. If you use sugar this will change the nutritional label.
    • Smoked Paprika - you could omit but it gives the beans their unique flavour.
    • Cannellini Beans - I use tinned Cannellini beans to make this quick and easy recipe. Tinned haricot beans and jarred navy beans will also work. As will dried beans (see FAQ's).
    • Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper

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    FAQ's

    What's The Difference Between British Baked Beans and American Beans?

    British baked beans are made without meat in a tomato sauce. American baked beans are cooked with molasses, pork and brown sugar so their sauce is much sweeter and thicker.

    Can I Use Dried Beans to Make These Baked Beans?

    Yes. This will take longer though. You will need to soak your dried beans in a large bowl covered in cold water for roughly 8 - 10 hours.

    Then rinse them thoroughly before using. The cooking time will be longer so I suggest cooking over a medium heat and stirring often.

    How Long Do Homemade Baked Beans Last?

    Store any leftover British baked beans in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 - 3 days maxiumum.

    Can I Freeze Baked Beans?

    Yes. You can easily make these beans and freeze them. I like to make a batch and divide them into individual containers and then freeze.

    How To Reheat Baked Beans?

    These baked beans can easily be re-heated gently on your stove in a small saucepan. Or in a bowl, covered in a microwave.

    More Bean Recipes For You To Try

    Easy Cannellini Bean Salad
    Easy cannellini bean salad is a delicious Mediterranean white bean salad. Made from canned beans it makes a great budget lunch or side dish.
    Check out this recipe
    Easy cannellini bean salad served in a round white bowl with a serving spoon in. A lemon and salt and pepper cellars above.
    Vegan Mixed Bean Curry
    This vegan mixed bean curry is an easy 40-minute one pan healthy budget bean curry recipe. It goes perfectly with rice or naan bread.
    Check out this recipe
    Skillet of vegan mixed bean curry with a spoon in it ready to serve with rice in the background.
    📋 Slow Cooker Beans and Rice
    Slow cooker beans and rice is delicious, easy to make and makes a great budget family meal. Everything is cooked in the slow cooker saving time and dishes!
    Check out this recipe
    Slow cooker beans and rice cooked in a slow cooker with half a lime on top. Plate with two forks on above.
    Easy British baked beans served on two slices of wholemeal toast on a white plate. Beans in a saucepan, knife and fork and salt and pepper in the background.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    5 from 8 votes

    📋 Easy British Baked Beans Recipe

    Easy British baked beans. Homemade tasty baked beans in just 15 minutes from just 5 ingredients. So much healthier than canned beans!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
    Cuisine: British
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 273kcal
    Author: Neil

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

    This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    Equipment

    • Saucepans
    • Kitchen scale
    • Measuring spoons
    • Sieve
    • Wooden spoon

    Ingredients

    • 140 g tomato passata
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 teaspoon honey*
    • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 400 g can cannellini beans in water drained and rinsed
    • Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Place the tomato passata and tomato paste in a medium sized saucepan and heat gently for a couple of minutes until warmed.
    • Stir in the honey and smoked paprika and continue heating gently until sauce thickens and begins to simmer.
    • Once the sauce is simmering stir in the beans and cook for 4 to 5 minutes stirring every now and then.
    • Season to taste and serve on toast.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Notes

    *Vary the amount of honey to suit your own tastes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 405mg | Potassium: 1206mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 548IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 7mg

    Nutrition Label

    Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.

    Nutrition Facts
    📋 Easy British Baked Beans
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 273 Calories from Fat 9
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 1g2%
    Saturated Fat 0.2g1%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
    Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g
    Sodium 405mg18%
    Potassium 1206mg34%
    Carbohydrates 54g18%
    Fiber 11g46%
    Sugar 10g11%
    Protein 16g32%
    Vitamin A 548IU11%
    Vitamin C 7mg8%
    Calcium 160mg16%
    Iron 7mg39%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Rate The Recipe

    If you’ve made this easy British baked beans recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.

    I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David @ Spiced

      August 18, 2022 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      Ah I love a good British breakfast! These baked beans are such an easy and classic recipe - and serving them on toast is the perfect comfort food for a fall morning. Adding these to the list for sure!

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 19, 2022 at 11:03 am

        Thanks David! Sometimes you just can't beat a British breakfast. I mean I love an American breakfast of pancakes from time to time too, but if I had the choice....I think British breakfast would still win. Beans on toast for lunch though. Yum!

        Reply
    2. Sherry M

      August 19, 2022 at 6:55 am

      5 stars
      i love baked beans. this sounds tasty and easy too. yum

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 19, 2022 at 11:04 am

        Thanks Sherry. I'm glad you like it. I've tried to make it as easy as possible. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    3. Ben | Havocinthekitchen

      August 19, 2022 at 3:18 pm

      5 stars
      While it's so good to make baked beans fully from scratch, the cooking process is sooooo long. That's why I am in support of canned beans ๐Ÿ™‚ Looks great!

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 20, 2022 at 3:25 pm

        There's a lot of baked bean recipes that take too long I agree Ben. This one is super quick and simple though!

        Reply
    4. Chef Mimi

      August 20, 2022 at 12:30 am

      5 stars
      We really enjoyed the full English breakfast when we visited England. But I assumed the beans were actually prepared canned beans! they taste very similar to a canned bean variety we have here! But I love your ingredients!

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 20, 2022 at 3:26 pm

        When I worked in catering the beans were canned. They came from a huge can! You can't beat a breakfast without the beans can you? ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    5. Michelle

      August 22, 2022 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      These British baked beans look so much more healthy and delicious, compared to the ones I had for breakfast in London!! I'll have to give this one a try, Neil! I just happen to have some canned cannellini beans too ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 23, 2022 at 7:19 am

        They are definitely more healthy than those ones you had in London! Thanks Michelle. Hope you enjoy them!

        Reply
    6. Raymund | angsarap.net

      August 23, 2022 at 11:15 pm

      5 stars
      Nothing is better than making your own baked beans at home, sometimes the canned version dont make it. Making them homemade gives you the flexibility to add your own stuff, nice!

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 24, 2022 at 6:15 am

        My wife much prefers my home made version to the canned version. I think she's got used to the fact there's no actual sugar in my recipe. I don't mind having the canned version from time to time but she turns her nose up at them now! ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    7. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

      August 29, 2022 at 6:59 pm

      5 stars
      This is all very interesting, Neil. I've had beans that are roughly similar to these, but only roughly. I had to look up what a full English breakfast is, and I'm all for it! I have to say that I've not ever put beans on toast, although my grandmother used to. I don't know why I haven't, because it sounds obviously delicious.

      Reply
      • Neil

        August 30, 2022 at 5:25 am

        I do recommend a full English breakfast now and then Jeff. It's delicious (but also not so healthy!). But if you make it yourself and grill everything instead of frying it and also make these beans then you've definitely got a much healthier English breakfast. Or have a Scottish breakfast where we add Haggis. Ha ha!

        Reply
    5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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