Naturally Sweetened Baked Beans Recipe
Alison Needham‘s baked beans recipe is sure to be the star of your next cookout. It’s nearly as easy as jazzed-up canned baked beans but is refined sugar-free and totally delicious thanks to the addition of California Prune BBQ Sauce.
Are Baked Beans Healthy?
You probably already know that beans are a great source of fiber and protein – but most store-bought baked beans are laden with sugars or preservatives. Our friend Alison created this healthier take on the classic baked beans recipe. Her California Prune BBQ Sauce recipes uses prune puree instead of processed sugar to add just the right amount of sweetness.
Other ways to use California Prune BBQ Sauce
Alison’s recipe for BBQ Sauce makes 2 1/2 cups, so you’ll have some leftover. Thankfully, this tangy sauce keeps for up to a month in the fridge! Use it to top burgers and sandwiches or as a pizza sauce.
Less sugar, more nutrients? That’s a win.
Prunes work beautifully as a natural sweetener in this recipe – and provide essential vitamins and minerals that will level up the nutritional value of any recipe! Prunes are low glycemic and loaded with fiber, polyphenols, boron, potassium, and Vitamin K which collectively can contribute to gut health, reduced inflammation, cancer prevention, blood sugar control, bone health, and reduced cholesterol!
Naturally Sweetened Baked Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 slices thick-cut bacon cut into slivers
- 1 medium onion diced, about 1 cup
- 3 medium cloves of garlic minced
- 2 TBSP tomato paste
- 1 cup California Prune BBQ Sauce
- 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
- 2 TBSP maple syrup
- 1 TBSP dijon mustard
- 1 TBSP smoked paprika
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp each salt and pepper or to taste
- 3 cans of navy beans drained and rinsed (15 ounce/425g cans)
- ½ cup of broth or water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F degrees (180C). Heat a 9-10 inch (22cm) cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring often, until the bacon is crisp and the fat is rendered. About 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Pour out all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat and return the pan to the heat.
- Add the onion and garlic to the pan, and saute, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and turning golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the California Prune BBQ Sauce, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, cinnamon, salt and pepper, and broth. Whisk well to combine. Fold in the navy beans until completely coated with the mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until it’s bubbling around the edges. Add the reserved bacon to the top and bake for 10 minutes more. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
Use the leftover BBQ Sauce from this baked beans recipe to make…
Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Our Pulled Chicken Sandwiches just taste like they’ve simmered for hours (thanks to the Instant Pot). Make the California Prune BBQ Sauce ahead of time (it keeps for up to a month in the fridge) and you’ll have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Chicken and Prune Pizza with Cauliflower Crust
Use leftover BBQ Sauce to make a sweet and tangy, this Chicken and California Prune Pizza. The combination of blue cheese, red onion, and prunes is utterly irresistible.
Love beans? Try our plant-based take on Chicken Marbella
Beans Marbella
Our vegetarian take on Chicken Marbella was inspired by a Beans Marbella recipe in The New York Times. It’s loaded with California grown goodness- wine, beans, olives and (of course) prunes!
Did you try this recipe? Maybe you’ve got a favorite recipe using California Prunes that you’d like to share with us? Snap a pic and share it on social using #caprunes.
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