Irresistible Instant Pot Maple Bacon Baked Beans: A Homemade Classic

Discover the ultimate homemade side dish with this incredible Instant Pot maple baked beans recipe. Moving beyond the canned variety, this recipe allows you to create a classic, flavorful side from scratch using dried beans, all while significantly cutting down on traditional cooking times thanks to the power of your pressure cooker. In just a couple of hours, you can transform humble dried legumes into a hearty, sweet, and smoky masterpiece that will become a new family favorite.

Maple bacon baked beans are the quintessential accompaniment for a wide array of meals. Whether you’re firing up the grill for a summer BBQ, serving crispy fried fish, flipping juicy burgers, or simply looking for a comforting side for a weeknight dinner, these beans are the perfect choice. They offer a satisfying and belly-filling component that can easily feed a crowd, making them ideal for potlucks, family gatherings, and holiday feasts. Starting with dried beans gives you complete control over the texture and flavor, ensuring a dish so delicious, everyone will be asking for seconds. Best of all, with the magic of the pressure cooker, the lengthy soaking process typically required for dried beans is completely eliminated, making this a surprisingly quick and effortless recipe.

The Instant Pot Advantage: Perfect Maple Bacon Baked Beans

Baked beans are a staple at virtually any cookout, picnic, or potluck, and for good reason. Their hearty nature and rich, complex flavors make them an undeniable crowd-pleaser. However, preparing baked beans from scratch traditionally involves a significant time commitment. The conventional method demands pre-soaking the beans overnight, followed by a lengthy simmering period to cook them until tender, infuse them with flavor, and allow the sauce to thicken to perfection. This multi-step process can deter even enthusiastic home cooks.

Fortunately, the Instant Pot, or any electric pressure cooker, revolutionizes the way we make homemade baked beans. This kitchen appliance dramatically speeds up the entire process, eliminating the need for pre-sosoaking the beans altogether. What once took hours, or even an entire day, can now be accomplished in just a fraction of the time. You can transform an economical bag of dried beans into a deeply flavorful, tender, and robust dish in a mere couple of hours, with most of that time being hands-off. This efficiency makes homemade baked beans a much more achievable reality for busy individuals and families looking to enjoy wholesome, from-scratch meals without the fuss.

Maple and Bacon: The Quintessential Flavor Combination for Baked Beans

Crafting the perfect sauce is key to outstanding baked beans, and there are countless variations to explore. Many traditional recipes lean on a classic ketchup-based sauce, often sweetened generously with brown sugar, which undoubtedly yields delicious results. However, there’s a world of flavor beyond just ketchup. Some prefer beans with very little or no ketchup at all, allowing other ingredients to truly shine.

For this recipe, we strike a beautiful balance, creating a sauce that is technically ketchup-based but boasts a much richer and more complex flavor profile. By incorporating a touch of our favorite BBQ sauce, we add a wonderful roundness and depth to the ketchup, enhancing its savory notes while contributing to the overall seasoning effortlessly. This clever addition does much of the heavy lifting in terms of flavor development.

The star of the show, of course, is the dynamic duo of maple syrup and bacon. Maple syrup infuses the beans with a warm, natural sweetness and a deep, distinctive flavor that is both comforting and sophisticated. Complementing this sweetness is the bacon, which brings its signature salty, smoky, and savory notes to the dish. The interplay between the rich sweetness of the maple and the robust savoriness of the bacon creates a harmonious and incredibly enticing taste experience. The result is a thick, luscious sauce bursting with balanced flavors, none of which overpower the others. Each bite offers a perfect medley of sweet, smoky, and savory goodness, leaving you eager for another spoonful.

Key Ingredients for Flavorful Instant Pot Baked Beans

Achieving the rich and comforting taste of these maple bacon baked beans starts with selecting the right ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is vital:

• Dry Navy Beans (or Pinto/Great Northern): The foundation of our dish. Using dried beans is more economical and allows for superior texture compared to canned. Navy beans are classic for baked beans, but pinto or great northern beans are excellent alternatives, offering slight variations in texture and mild flavor.
• Salt & Baking Soda: These are crucial for the initial cooking of the beans. Salt enhances flavor, while a tiny bit of baking soda helps soften the bean skins, ensuring a tender result even without traditional soaking.
• Bacon: The smoky, savory cornerstone. Half a pound of good quality bacon, chopped and rendered, provides not only crispy bits but also flavorful fat to sauté the aromatics.
• Onion & Bell Pepper: These aromatic vegetables add essential depth and a fresh contrast to the rich sauce. Diced finely, they meld seamlessly into the beans.
• Water: Used for cooking the beans under pressure and later to deglaze the pot, capturing all the delicious browned bits.
• Barbecue Sauce: A secret weapon for adding complex layers of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors, enhancing the overall richness of the sauce. Choose your favorite brand for the best results.
• Ketchup: Provides the classic tang and body to the baked bean sauce, marrying all the flavors together.
• Spicy Brown Mustard: A touch of mustard adds a subtle zesty kick and complexity, balancing the sweetness without making the beans overtly spicy.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Introduces a crucial acidic element that brightens the sauce, preventing it from tasting overly heavy or sweet. It helps to cut through the richness of the bacon and maple.
• Maple Syrup: The star sweetener, offering a distinctive, rich, and warm sweetness that is far superior to plain sugar. Real maple syrup is highly recommended for its unique flavor profile.

Each ingredient plays a vital role in building the layered and robust flavors that make these Instant Pot maple bacon baked beans truly unforgettable.

More Great Instant Pot Bean Recipes:

• Ham and Beans in the Instant Pot
• Salsa Chicken {with Black Beans} in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup

If you don’t yet own an Instant Pot but are craving delicious baked beans, don’t worry! You can still enjoy a fantastic homemade version. Try my Grandma’s Calico Beans. This recipe starts with canned beans, making it incredibly simple and quick to prepare, yielding equally fabulous results.

4.59 from 12 ratings

Homemade Maple Bacon Baked Beans in the Instant Pot

Author:
Carlee

Servings:

24
Servings

Baked beans are a classic side dish for good reason. This recipe flavors delicious baked beans with maple and bacon. They start with dried beans and can still be made in a couple of hours with the help of a pressure cooker.

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Prep:
15 mins

Cook:
2 hrs

Total:
2 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients

• 2 pounds dry navy beans (pinto or great northern beans also work)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ pound bacon
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• ½ cup ketchup
• 3 Tablespoons spicy brown mustard
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¾ cup maple syrup

Instructions

1. Rinse the beans thoroughly, then place them in a 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot insert. Fill the pot with water up to the 2/3 full mark. Add the salt and baking soda to the pot.
   Ingredients: 2 pounds dry navy beans, 2 teaspoons salt, ¼ teaspoon baking soda
2. Secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. Once cooking is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes before performing a quick release of any remaining pressure.
3. Carefully drain the cooked beans in a colander and set them aside.
4. Chop the bacon into small, bite-sized pieces. Return the Instant Pot to the sauté setting and add the chopped bacon to the pot. Cook until the bacon begins to crisp, stirring frequently to ensure even cooking.
   Ingredients: ½ pound bacon
5. Drain most of the bacon grease from the pot, leaving approximately 1 tablespoon behind. Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the pot and sauté until they are tender and translucent.
   Ingredients: 1 onion, 1 bell pepper
6. Pour in the ¼ cup of water, using a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly. This process, called deglazing, helps release any flavorful browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot, preventing a burn notice and adding depth to your sauce.
   Ingredients: ¼ cup water
7. Add the barbecue sauce, ketchup, spicy brown mustard, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup to the pot. Stir well to ensure all ingredients are thoroughly combined and the sauce is smooth.
   Ingredients: 1 cup barbecue sauce, ½ cup ketchup, 3 Tablespoons spicy brown mustard, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, ¾ cup maple syrup
8. Return the drained beans to the pot with the sauce. Stir gently to coat all the beans evenly with the rich, flavorful sauce.
9. Switch the Instant Pot to the slow cook setting (or keep on sauté on low) and let the beans simmer for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the sauce to thicken slightly. For an even richer flavor, you can simmer longer.

Notes

Pinto or great northern beans also work wonderfully in this recipe as a substitute for navy beans.
Adding the baking soda to the water during the initial cooking helps to significantly soften the beans, ensuring a tender texture without requiring a pre-soak.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 Serving |
Calories: 164 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 26 g |
Protein: 8 g |
Fat: 4 g |
Saturated Fat: 1 g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g |
Cholesterol: 9 mg |
Sodium: 525 mg |
Fiber: 4 g |
Sugar: 12 g

“Cooking With Carlee” is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Serving Suggestions and Perfect Pairings

These homemade Instant Pot maple bacon baked beans are incredibly versatile and pair beautifully with a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas to help you serve them up:

• BBQ Feasts: They are a classic companion to grilled ribs, pulled pork, smoked brisket, and chicken. The sweet and smoky notes perfectly complement rich barbecue flavors.
• Burgers & Hot Dogs: Elevate your backyard burger and hot dog spread with a generous scoop of these flavorful beans. They add a gourmet touch to casual fare.
• Fried Fish & Seafood: The sweetness of the maple and the savory bacon create a fantastic contrast to crispy fried fish or other seafood dishes.
• Picnics & Potlucks: Easy to transport and universally loved, these beans are a guaranteed hit at any gathering. They hold up well and taste even better as the flavors meld.
• Roasted Meats: Serve them alongside roasted chicken, pork loin, or even a holiday ham for a comforting and hearty side.
• Breakfast/Brunch: While often a dinner side, baked beans are a traditional component of a full English breakfast. Enjoy them with eggs, toast, and sausages for a hearty morning meal.

For an extra touch, garnish your baked beans with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or a few extra crispy bacon bits just before serving. A dash of hot sauce on the side can also be offered for those who enjoy an extra kick.

Storing and Reheating Your Homemade Baked Beans

One of the best things about making a large batch of these Instant Pot maple bacon baked beans is how well they store. They’re fantastic for meal prepping or enjoying leftovers for days to come:

• Refrigerator: Once cooled, transfer the baked beans to an airtight container. They will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more delicious!
• Freezer: For longer storage, portion the cooled beans into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating Instructions:

• Stovetop: Transfer the desired amount of beans to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened too much, until heated through.
• Microwave: Place beans in a microwave-safe dish and cover. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot.
• Oven: For larger quantities, or if you prefer a slightly crispier top, reheat in an oven-safe dish covered with foil at 300°F (150°C) for 20-30 minutes, or until thoroughly warmed. Uncover for the last 5-10 minutes if you like.

Common Questions & Troubleshooting Tips for Baked Beans

Even with the convenience of the Instant Pot, you might have a few questions or encounter minor issues. Here are some common queries and troubleshooting advice:

• Can I use canned beans instead of dried? While this recipe is designed for dried beans, you absolutely can use canned beans if you’re short on time. Skip steps 1-3. Drain and rinse canned beans, then proceed from step 4, reducing the cooking time on the slow cook setting as the beans are already cooked.
• My beans are still hard after pressure cooking. What went wrong? This can happen if your beans are very old, or if your Instant Pot wasn’t properly sealed. Ensure your beans are fresh. If they are still firm, simply add more liquid if needed and pressure cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.
• The sauce is too thin/too thick. How can I fix it?
  • Too Thin: For a thicker sauce, continue to simmer the beans on the sauté setting (low) with the lid off for a bit longer, allowing the liquid to evaporate. You can also mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water to create a slurry, stir it into the simmering beans, and cook until thickened.
  • Too Thick: If the sauce is too thick, simply stir in a small amount of water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Can I make this recipe vegetarian? Absolutely! To make these baked beans vegetarian, omit the bacon. For a smoky flavor, you can add 1-2 teaspoons of smoked paprika or a few drops of liquid smoke to the sauce. Sautéing extra onions or mushrooms in olive oil can add more savory depth.
• What if I don’t have spicy brown mustard? Dijon mustard can be a good substitute, offering a similar tang and depth. If you prefer a milder flavor, yellow mustard can also work, though it will alter the taste slightly.

With these tips, you’ll be well-equipped to make perfect Instant Pot maple bacon baked beans every time!