Hungry Healthy Happy

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Meal Plans
  • Recipes To Your Inbox
  • Shop
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Meal Plans
  • Recipes To Your Inbox
  • Shop
×
Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Sep 9, 2024 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 96 Comments

322 shares
  • 165
Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegan
Jump to Recipe
Slow Cooker Baked Beans with a text title overlay.

If you are looking for something healthy and filling on a budget, then give these Slow Cooker Baked Beans a try! Forget the tins of baked beans - make these lower in sugar and salt homemade baked beans that the whole family will love. Not only are baked beans comforting, but they are a fantastic vegetarian protein source and super cheap to make.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans on a red and white plate in front of a jar of dried beans.

You really can't beat homemade baked beans. We have taken a classic British breakfast and cooked it in a slow cooker (crockpot), so you can wake up on a cold morning with this comforting breakfast ready to eat. Baked beans in the slow cooker also make a great side dish.

Eat them by themselves on toast, with eggs and bacon (baked beans with bacon is next level) or have them for lunch on a air fryer baked sweet potato.

You can put these in the slow cooker before you go to bed and they are ready in the morning for breakfast. Make a big batch of these and then freeze them in smaller portions.

If you are looking for recipes that use baked beans as an ingredient, then why not try our Sausage and Mash Pie or Slow Cooker Sausage Casserole.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Slow Cooker Baked Beans Variations
  • How to Make Slow Cooker Baked Beans - Step by Step
  • Why Use the Slow Cooker?
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Slow Cooker Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Cannellini beans - Ever wondered what kind of beans are baked beans? They are usually haricot or cannellini beans. These are the best beans to use for baked beans, as they are nice and creamy. You could add some kidney beans in too.
  • Garlic granules, onion powder, mustard powder and paprika - these create the lovely flavour and can be adapted to suit your own tastes.
  • Passata - For that lovely rich sauce.
  • Vegetable stock - Try to use a really good quality one, as you will be able to taste the difference. If making these baked beans in a slow cooker for young children, then use low salt stock.
  • Maple syrup or honey - You can leave this out, but it's nice to have a touch of sweetness in the baked beans that would get with canned baked beans.
  • Apple cider vinegar - This is more than to add flavour. Vinegar enhances the other flavours.
  • Tomato puree - Also known as tomato paste. Used to thicken the sauce and give the baked bean recipe a really boost of tomato flavour.
  • Sea salt and black pepper - Generously season.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans Variations

The great thing about baked beans in the slow cooker is you can change the flavours around. Personally, we LOVE BBQ beans. Add some BBQ spices or homemade BBQ sauce. Want curry beans? Add some curry powder. Play around with the recipe and see what you like. Make them spicy by adding a splash of buffalo sauce, or your favourite chilli sauce.

Oh, and a little grated mature cheddar cheese goes a long way on these, but if you leave it out then these are vegan.

Want to make them more indulgent? Just fry up some chopped bacon and add it to the slow cooker with all the other ingredients. You could use turkey bacon to make it lighter.

How to Make Slow Cooker Baked Beans - Step by Step

One: To make baked beans from scratch, put all of the ingredients into a large slow cooker and mix well.
Two: Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours, so most of the liquid is absorbed. The beans should be creamy and tender.

A slow cooker pot containing beans in a tomato sauce.

Why Use the Slow Cooker?

Why use the slow cooker to make homemade baked beans when you could cook them on the hob? Well, apart from not having to stand over the hob, the slow cooker makes much creamier baked beans, and it's an easy way to cook dried beans as they are done low and slow.

Baked beans are best when cooked over a longer time as it really softens the beans and allows the flavours to really come together. You end up with a really rich and delicious sauce.

They won't taste exactly like the beans you get out of a tin, but that's not a bad thing. Making them yourself means you get to control exactly what goes in them, so these have a hint of smokiness from the paprika in them and not loads of salt and sugar. These baked beans in the slow cooker have so much more flavour than canned beans.

Two plates of beans on toast sat on a blue towel.

Serving Suggestions

Beans on toast is such a classic, but there is so much more that you can do with crock pot baked beans. Add them to stews, pies and bolognese or put them on top of a baked potato with some cheese. They make a really delicious and cheap nacho topping too, especially when you add some Mexican spices to them.

We love them in a Shepherd's Pie as a way to bulk it out and make it go further. You can also put them in a puff pastry parcel to make a comforting pasty. Follow our Cheese and Onion Pasty recipe, but use beans instead.

Our kids love these with sausage and fries, so why not try our Air Fryer Sausages and Skin on Fries. They are also an amazing nacho topping!

Extra Tips

  • Use a mixture of dried beans like cannellini, haricot and chickpeas.
  • Make flavoured crockpot baked beans by adding BBQ sauce or curry powder.
  • Use these baked beans to fill out bolognese or shepherd's pie or on top of toast or baked potatoes.
  • Make these baked beans more indulgent by adding some cooked chopped bacon with all the rest of the ingredients.
  • If you are using dried beans, make sure they are soaked overnight.
Two plates of beans on toast next to a jar of uncooked beans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Baked Beans Healthy?

Baked beans are a great source of protein and fibre and if you make them yourself, then you can make sure they aren't loaded with salt and sugar like the tinned ones can be. Beans are also a good source of vitamin B and folic acid.

Can you freeze slow cooker baked beans?

Yes, you can store them in the freezer, and they make a great batch cook dish. Just allow them to fully cool and then freeze them flat in zip lock bags. You can also keep them in the fridge for 4-5 days in an air-tight container.
To reheat them, just make sure they are fully defrosted and then gently heat them in a pan.

What kind of beans are baked beans?

We used cannellini beans to make this recipe, but you could use a mixture of cannellini, haricot and chickpeas. To keep this recipe budget friendly, we used dried beans, but you could use canned (rinse them first) and just reduce the cooking time.

How to thicken up baked beans

These might look a bit liquidy once finished cooking, however they will thicken up as they cool. If you want them even thicker, then you can cook them for 30 minutes extra with the lid off and this will help some of the liquid to evaporate.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

  • Slow cooker teriyaki chicken on a bed of rice topped with chopped spring onions.
    Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
  • A bowl of slow cooker beef stroganoff with mashed potato
    Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
  • Four slow cooker jacket potatoes on a wooden board with butter melting in them.
    Easy Slow Cooker Jacket Potatoes
  • Slow Cooker Mulled Wine in tumblers with cranberries and orange slices.
    Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

If you’ve tried these slow cooker beans, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

A plate of slow cooker baked beans on toast.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans

By: Dannii Martin
If you are looking for something healthy and filling on a budget, then give these Slow Cooker Baked Beans a try!
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
Vegan
4.94 from 16 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: British
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 6 hours hrs
Total: 6 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 263kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a mustard bottle.
Mustard
An illustration of a wine glass.
Sulphites

Ingredients

  • 800 g (1 cups) canned cannellini (haricot) beans - drained
  • 1 tablespoon Onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic granules
  • 500 g (2 cups) Passata
  • 200 ml (2 cups) Vegetable stock
  • 3 tablespoon Maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon Tomato puree
  • 2 teaspoon Mustard powder
  • 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
  • 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Put all of the ingredients into a large slow cooker and mix well.
  • Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 5-6 hours, so most of the liquid is absorbed. The beans should be creamy and tender.

Recipe Tips

  • Use a mixture of dried beans like cannellini, haricot and chickpeas.
  • Make flavoured baked beans by adding BBQ sauce or curry powder.
  • Use these baked beans to fill out bolognese or shepherd's pie or on top of toast or baked potatoes.
  • Make these baked beans more indulgent by adding some cooked chopped bacon with all the rest of the ingredients.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 1567mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1190IU | Vitamin C: 14.5mg | Calcium: 168mg | Iron: 8mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

You'll love these too...

  • A bowl of slow cooker roast potatoes.
    Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes
  • A bowl of slow cooker tomato soup topped with cream, croutons and herbs.
    Slow Cooker Tomato Soup
  • Slow cooker beef massaman curry in a bowl with rice.
    Slow Cooker Beef Massaman Curry
  • A bowl of slow cooker rice topped with chopped herbs.
    How To Cook Slow Cooker Rice

Comments

  1. Alison says

    September 12, 2016 at 10:07 am

    Home made baked beans are so much nicer and you can mix it up using different beans as well. Whoops to the great tomato disaster!

    Reply
  2. Where Roots And Wings Entwine says

    September 11, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    They look yummy. We love baked beans here so will have to give this recipe a try one day.

    Reply
  3. Sam B says

    September 11, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    I have never considered making my own beans, I am so doing this (Adding chilli for me)

    Reply
  4. nicol says

    September 11, 2016 at 9:00 pm

    i'm so making this! i bought a slow cooker and can't wait for it to arrive!

    Reply
  5. Sarahjane says

    September 11, 2016 at 8:40 pm

    I don't like tinned tomatoes but I'm desperate to try this recipe! Might change my mind

    Reply
  6. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    September 11, 2016 at 7:38 pm

    This looks amazing! I love baked beans and this reminds me that I haven't had some in a long while.

    Reply
  7. Kylee says

    September 11, 2016 at 3:32 pm

    I love beans on toast! In America they think it's so strange, but I don't care lol. Your homemade ones look fantastic!! Definitely going to make.

    Reply
  8. Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says

    September 11, 2016 at 3:13 pm

    I've never thought of making baked beans but yours look exactly like the type you buy and I bet they taste so much better.

    Reply
  9. Milly Youngman says

    September 11, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    This sounds amazing - way better than anything out of a tin, that's for sure!

    Milly // Mini Adventures

    Reply
  10. Nat says

    September 11, 2016 at 10:27 am

    Great recipe, could these be made without a slow cooker? Thanks X

    Reply
  11. Hannah says

    September 11, 2016 at 10:02 am

    I love baked beans so I need to try this!

    Reply
  12. Chef Mireille says

    September 10, 2016 at 9:49 pm

    I dont take advantage of my slow cooker often enuf. This looks like a great one to try

    Reply
  13. Tanya says

    September 10, 2016 at 6:22 pm

    I love beans with breakfast but I'm a bit weird and have to have vinegar on them, can't have them without!

    Reply
  14. Sam | Ahead of Thyme says

    September 10, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    I love baked beans and I love an easy recipe! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  15. Dana says

    September 10, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    This is the first I've heard of baked beans for breakfast, but it makes sense. They are filled with protein so they give you energy for the rest of the day!

    Reply
« Older Comments
Newer Comments »
4.94 from 16 votes (11 ratings without comment)

Made this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Dannii with a sunset behind her.

Welcome

My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

About me...

Salad Recipes

  • Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad in a white dish surrounded by crumbled feta.
    Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad
  • A plate of kale, watermelon and feta salad surrounded by watermelon slices.
    Kale, Watermelon and Feta Salad
  • A large bowl of chickpea tuna salad with a serving spoon in it.
    Chickpea Tuna Salad
  • Chopped Blue Cheese Salad in a large white bowl.
    Chopped Blue Cheese Salad
  • A bowl of watercress salad with a wooden fork and spoon in it.
    Watercress Salad
  • Little Gem Salad in a round white bowl.
    Little Gem Salad

Recipe Books

The Hungry Healthy Happy book cover.
The healthy slow cooker book cover.
the front cover of The Picky Plate eBook.

Popular Recipes

  • Leftover chicken pasta on a black plate.
    Leftover Chicken Pasta
  • Mediterranean Rice Salad in a large round serving dish.
    Mediterranean Rice Salad
  • Fourteen healthy flapjacks on a sheet of parchment paper.
    Healthy Flapjacks
  • A tortilla chip being dipped into some nacho cheese sauce.
    2 Minute Nacho Cheese Sauce
  • Sticky Ginger Beef in a bowl with rice and broccoli.
    10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef Mince
  • Baked Egg Tortilla in a round baking dish.
    Baked Egg Tortilla (Tortilla Quiche)

Footer

Help & Information

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Advertising
  • Blog

About us

  • About us
  • Newsletter Sign Up!
  • Press enquiries
  • FAQ

Follow us


Featured in

A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

As an Amazon Associate we earn certain commissions from qualifying purchases. By using our site, you agree that we can collect and use your data. Our privacy statement has more details.

Copyright © 2011-2024 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved

  • 165

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.