One of the most frugal sides you can make for any casual gathering is Boston Baked Beans. Best of all, one of the most delicious sides you can make is Boston Baked Beans. Isn’t it nice when the universe aligns like that? Especially when the Boston Baked Beans are from the Bull & Finch, Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not and they’re amazeballs!
From the Bull & the Finch, Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not
Cheers is the Cheers Pub in Boston as well as a television show that ran from 1982 to 1993. I had to explain this to my 20 sumpin’ son who didn’t know about the much-beloved Cheers television show & the various spin-offs that came from it. My Mom and I used to love to watch Frasier more than Cheers. My son says that figures coz Frasier is kind of hoity-toity like I am…well, I’ve come down in the world if that was ever the case, lol! Thanks for that, I think, Kraig, sweetie.
About Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not:
Cheers Boston Baked Beans are noticeably different from most baked beans. First of all, they’re not sweet tasting, even though they have a little molasses and maple syrup. Instead, they’re almost a little tangy with a bit of sharpness from the dry mustard and vinegar. (Both of these items are in my Top Secret Super Stealth Arsenal of Ingredients.) I think they’re a nice change-up from the more standard sticky sweet Baked Beans.
Even though I’m not a huge fan of really sweet beans, I sometimes add a little brown sugar to my Cheers Boston Baked Beans, especially if I’m serving to company that might expect that sweetness. Now & then you need to throw caution to the wind, lol!
The recipe for Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not also calls for a pound of bacon! Talk about throwing caution to the wind! My little secret is I cut that in half. I still get the smoky, silky deliciousness with fewer worries about my health. And speaking of health, navy beans are full of protein & all kinds of essential minerals and help stabilize blood sugar. Check out what the World’s Healthiest Foods has to say about Navy Beans.
Competition Barbecue Spare Ribs with Cheers Boston Baked Beans
Making Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not:
Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not, as the name implies, can be, you got it, made in the Instant Pot or slowly baked in the oven. Both have advantages. While I’ve made these in the oven for years, I haven’t made them often, because it’s a four-hour bake. Fine on a winter day if you’re snowed in or around the house on a lazy weekend, but who wants to run the oven in the summer when it’s hot and there’s so much going on? That makes the IP your very special friend when you want Baked Beans as a barbecue side.
The beans are a little soupier from the Instant Pot and don’t get quite the caramelization as the oven version does, but they’re every bit as delish in their own way. I suppose you could toss them in a pan and finish them off in the oven. Maybe you want to do that anyway if you’ve cooked them ahead and are holding them for dinner. Just slowly reheat them in a big 9 x 13″ pan.
And speaking of the Instant Pot? You’ll have these beans on the table in about an hour with no worries about heating up the kitchen, no hassles of babysitting or opening up that hot oven to stir the pot. Long cooking recipes like this are where the Instant Pot really shines. Although some people say you can use unsoaked beans in the Instant Pot, I do not recommend it. They never turn out quite right. Check out my post on Brining and Soaking Beans in the Instant Pot or Traditional Method.
And speaking of the Instant Pot, you might notice the Cheers Beans in the photo above, with my Competition Barbecue Spare Ribs with directions for the Instant Pot, Oven or Smoker. They’re the perfect side for these beans – wait maybe that should be the other way around!
From the Bull & the Finch, Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not
Saving Money on Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not:
If you’re a follower, you know beans show up on a regular basis around here. They really are a bargain protein. Look for them on sale after holidays where ham is served. They’re not usually advertised, but check around Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. It’s worth taking a peak around Cinco de Mayo, too. Stock up for the year on Vinegar around Easter when everything from basic to fancy is usually on sale, and Molasses is usually rock bottom between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Bacon is usually on sale during holiday weeks, too. Stock up and freeze. Bacon can be brought out of the freezer, cut through and replaced. It might need to sit on the counter for a few minutes. We are not big bacon eaters at our house – it has gotten so pricey and isn’t the greatest for you, but I can’t resist using it as a flavoring.
One item I haven’t talked about a lot is Maple Syrup. I never see the real stuff on sale. If you’re lucky and have a friend who lives in a producing region, hit them up. Costco has great prices for their Kirkland brand. Maple syrup is one thing I’ll buy over the grocery store syrups, even if I have to dole it out like the precious commodity it is. I’ve been known to keep the good stuff for myself and let the kids have the stuff in the plastic bottles, just because they seem to drown their pancakes in it! A little of the real stuff goes a long way.
From the Bull & the Finch, Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not
Cheers Boston Baked Beans Instant Pot or Not
Not at all sweet but with a bit of a bite, these Boston Baked Beans will make you sit up and take notice. From the Bull & Finch in Boston, the original “Cheers.”
- Total Time: see recipe
- Yield: 8 to 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried navy beans, soaked or brined
- 1 pound bacon (may use 1/2 lb) diced
- 1 large onion, chopped (1 1/3 cups)
- 8 cups water for standard oven cooking, 1 3/4 cups water for Instant Pot
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 2 tablespoons light molasses (any molasses is fine)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Standard:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Rinse and drain soaked beans, set aside. In a large Dutch oven, add bacon and onion. Turn heat onto medium-high and cook until bacon is crisp. Drain excess fat if desired. Add the remaining ingredients and stir in beans. Bring to a boil and transfer to the oven. Bake uncovered, stirring now and then for about four hours, until beans are tender, checking several beans. Watch closely at the end of the cooking time, adding additional water if needed.
Instant Pot:
Rinse and drain soaked beans, set aside. Add bacon and onion to the Instant Pot, turn to the Saute setting. Cook until bacon is crisp. Drain excess fat if desired. Add the water and scrape the bottom of the pot well. Add the remaining ingredients and stir in beans. Seal the Instant Pot and cook on High Pressure for 45 minutes. When finished, let release naturally for 20 minutes. Check several beans for tenderness. If additional time is needed, reseal and set for five more minutes at High Pressure and let naturally release for 20 minutes.
Notes
Sometimes I add 1/3 to a half a cup of brown sugar and they are just barely sweet.
I’ll be bringing Warm Spinach Chicken Mandarin Salad to Fiesta Friday #226, hosted this week byJhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook.
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