English Baked Beans Recipe

This English baked beans recipe brings a comforting taste of classic English cuisine, perfect for a hearty breakfast or lunch. Made with tender white beans in a rich, tomato-based sauce, it’s a flavorful dish that’s naturally plant-based. Simple to prepare, this wholesome recipe is a satisfying and nutritious meal for all.

What are traditional English Baked beans?

Traditional English baked beans are a simple yet hearty dish typically made from white beans, most commonly haricot (navy) beans, cooked in a tomato-based sauce.

The sauce is lightly seasoned with ingredients like sugar, salt, and sometimes vinegar, giving it a mildly sweet and tangy flavor.

Often served as part of a full English breakfast, they are typically enjoyed on toast or as a side dish with eggs, sausages, or other breakfast foods.

What ingredients are needed to make English Baked Beans?

Here’s how each ingredient contributes to the flavor and texture of a vegan English baked beans recipe:

White Beans are the base of the dish, typically haricot or navy beans. They have a soft, creamy texture that absorbs the tomato sauce flavors, making them tender and satisfying.

Ketchup adds sweetness and tang, helping to balance the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar while giving the sauce a slightly thicker texture and a familiar taste.

Tomato Paste provides a rich, concentrated tomato flavor, thickening the sauce and deepening its savory profile.

Apple Cider Vinegar introduces a bright, acidic element to balance the sweetness, enhancing the overall tangy flavor of the sauce.

Chopped Onion adds a savory base and depth of flavor. When sautéed, the onions become sweet and aromatic, enhancing the sauce’s complexity.

Pressed Garlic infuses the dish with a mild, earthy sharpness that complements the sweetness and adds a layer of pungency.

Mustard offers a subtle kick of heat and tang, boosting the dish’s depth and balancing the sweetness with a slight sharpness.

Brown Sugar enhances the overall sweetness while adding a hint of molasses-like depth, giving the sauce a more complex and caramel-like flavor.

Soy Sauce adds umami and saltiness to balance the sweetness, lending a savory richness that rounds out the sauce’s flavor profile.

How to make English Baked Beans?

Finely chop the onion and peel the garlic.

Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan, then add the diced onions and press the garlic. Sautee everything for about 4 minutes.

Next, add the drained white beans and mix in ketchup, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, mustard, brown sugar, and soy sauce.

Combine well, then bring to a simmer on medium heat. Now the English Baked Beans are ready.

How to serve English Baked Beans?

English baked beans are traditionally served as part of a full English breakfast, alongside toast, fried or scrambled eggs, sausages (vegan or traditional), grilled tomatoes, and mushrooms.

They can also be enjoyed simply on toast, making for a quick and comforting meal.

For a heartier option, serve baked beans as a side with baked potatoes, or pair them with a vegan sausage roll for a classic British lunch or dinner.

Ideas for Variations

Here are three creative variations of English baked beans:

1. Spicy Baked Beans: Add a kick by stirring in chili flakes, smoked paprika, or a dash of hot sauce. This gives the beans a smoky, spicy edge, perfect for those who enjoy a bit of heat.
2. Herbed Baked Beans: Incorporate fresh or dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, or bay leaves while cooking the beans. This adds an aromatic, earthy flavor that enhances the depth of the tomato sauce.
3. BBQ Baked Beans: Mix in a few tablespoons of vegan BBQ sauce, along with some extra brown sugar and mustard. This variation introduces a sweet, tangy, and smoky flavor, ideal for serving at a summer BBQ or alongside grilled vegetables.

What do do with leftovers?

If you have leftover English Baked Beans, I have some ideas for what to do with them:

• Baked Bean Jacket Potatoes: Top baked or roasted potatoes with the leftover beans and a sprinkle of vegan cheese for a hearty, comforting meal.
• Baked Bean Stew: Use the leftovers as a base for a vegetable stew by adding diced veggies like carrots, bell peppers, or spinach. Simmer everything together for a quick, wholesome meal.
• Baked Bean Burritos: Wrap the beans in a tortilla with rice, avocado, and fresh veggies to make a flavorful, easy-to-prepare burrito for lunch or dinner.

Can they be stored in the fridge or freezer?

Leftover English baked beans can be stored in both the fridge and freezer:

Store the beans in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reheat them on the stove or in the microwave, adding a little water if the sauce has thickened.

Baked beans freeze well and can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating, and stir gently to restore the texture.

​Don’t miss out on these other amazing recipes with beans:

• Simple Puerto Rican Beans (Habichuelas Guisadas)
• Best Texas Chili Beans Recipe with easy steps
• Ranch Style Beans
• Spanish Rice and Beans
• Rice and Beans Quesarito

I hope you love this vegan English baked beans recipe as much as I do!

If you give it a try, I’d really appreciate it if you left a comment and a star rating below – your feedback means a lot to me.

And don’t forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can see and share your delicious creations!