Instant Pot Brown Sugar Baked Beans
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Baked Beans are a quick and easy summer side dish thanks to the instant pot with all the hearty, filling, baked bean flavors you love. Slow cooker directions also provided.
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Baked Beans
Hey everyone it’s Sabrina again from Cooking with Points, a healthy recipe blog dedicated to easy weeknight meals with a focus on Weight Watchers smart points.
This month I’m sharing a delicious side dish recipe for all the warm weather we’re finally starting to see (except on the East Coast, they’re still getting snow!). Some of my favorite summer recipes include Deviled Egg Potato Salad, Rotisserie Roasted Potatoes, and Healthy Waldorf Chicken Salad; all three are delicious served during picnics or barbecues.
Baked Beans are one of the most popular summer side dishes we all enjoy. For years to have a healthier option for baked beans I used to just try to find the healthiest canned variety I could find.
The idea of making them from scratch with all the added sugars and the calories from the beans was overwhelming.
With the addition of beans to the zero points food list from Weight Watchers baked beans have once again become a side dish that you can enjoy without using a lot of your points. With a smaller amount of sugar and ketchup these baked beans won’t be too sweet, but just sweet enough satisfy all the cravings for the nostalgic flavors of baked beans that you love.
We also use dark brown sugar in this recipe in place of adding molasses (this helps us keep the points down) and since we’re using the instant pot we don’t even have to pre-cook the onions in any oil. This is as easy as adding the ingredients and letting the machine do all the work for us!
Different Baked Bean flavors:
- Add some spice with diced canned chilis or freshly chopped jalapeños.
- Add some smoky flavors with some chopped up bacon.
- Swap the brown sugar for maple if you like maple baked beans. (1/4 cup)
- Another brown sugar swap is honey, which would also be delicious. (1/4 cup)
What to serve with baked beans:
- Buffalo Turkey Cheeseburger with Blue Cheese Broccoli Slaw or Spicy Black Bean Burgers with Chipotle Mayonnaise are great burger ideas to serve along side the baked beans.
- Rainbow Potato Salad or Summer Potato Salad with Apples are great side dishes to add to your summer table.
Oven Baked Brown Sugar Baked Beans:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a cast iron skillet add 2 teaspoons of canola oil and the onions. Cook them until translucent on medium heat, about 4-5 minutes. Add in the rest of the ingredients and stir. Cover tightly and bake for 45 minutes.
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Baked Beans
Instant Pot Brown Sugar Baked Beans are a quick and easy summer side dish thanks to the instant pot with all the hearty, filling, baked bean flavors you love.
Ingredients:
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 15.5 ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (roughy 1 3/4 cups)
- 15.5 ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained (roughy 1 3/4 cups)
- 15.5 ounce can northern beans, rinsed and drained (roughy 1 3/4 cups)
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup dark brown brown sugar, unpacked
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
Directions:
Instant Pot Directions:
- Add the ingredients to the insert and stir them together well.
- Place the lid and lock. Set to Manual, High pressure, and set for 8 minutes.
- Once finished, natural pressure for about 10-15 minutes, then quick release.
- Stir before serving.
Slow Cooker Directions:
- Add the ingredients to the slow cooker and stir them together well.
- Cover and cook low 6 to 7 hours. Stir before serving.
- Pictured is a double recipe, but the ingredients are exactly the same ratio.
- If using dried beans, cook for 35 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 8 servings, Serving Size: 2/3 cup
- Amount Per Serving:
- Freestyle Points: 2
- Points +: 4
- Calories: 156 calories
- Total Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 382mg
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 9g
- Protein: 7.5g
Under 30 Minutes
Freezer Friendly
Paleo
Low Carb
Whole 30 Recipes
One Pan
Keto Recipes
'
Can i make this in the slow cooker?
Yes!
If I used a slow cooker, how long should I allow it to cook?
I’m going sugar-free for this year. Will the beans taste alright if I leave the sugar out?
Alexis
They won’t taste like baked beans as sugar is what makes them sweet but I am sure they will still be tasty.
Have you tried the G. Hughes brand of BBQ Sauce? It’s sugar free and might give you that “sweet” taste you’re looking for. You can find it at Walmart.
Why not try a small amount of Stevia rather than sucralose which is the sugar substitute in the BBQ sauce. I keep my sugar intake very low but I won’t use the fake stuff.
Gina I cannot wait to try these. I miss good baked beans and your recipes never let me down! I was so excited to see this.
What do you mean by release the pressure and let it decrease? Once you quick release all the pressure is gone.
Natural release then quick after 10 min.
What is an instant pot. You say to put everything in a cast iron skillet and cover and bake. What else can i use if i don’t have a cast iron skillet
Its a pressure cooker. You can also use any heavy oven safe skillet or Dutch oven.
What would be the time if u make this in slow cooker? And would the measurements be the same? Thank u
6 to 7 hours low.
I have not made the recipe but have had some experience with BURN notice on my instapot. I am unsure about the amount of liquid in this recipe. Too little liquid in recipe causes BURN notice to appear.
I’m asking the same question as you, Donna., thanks. Concern is amount of sugar vs. liquid in Instant Pot, plus dumping catsup which has sugar in also? Sabrina, please let us know if the liquid amount is right?
What is the points plus value on these? It’s not listed.
4
I would like to try the instapot recipe with the dry beans. I know how to soak them overnight or boil them then let them soak for an hour before using them in a recipe. My questions are “Do I need to do this before using them in the instapot?’ ” And do I need to add any wayer to the recipe with the dry beans?”
Not necessarily, I cook dry, unsoaked beans for 45 minutes.
Can you use agave instead of brown sugar?
sure
I prefer to use dry beans instead of canned. What is the amount of dry beans that I should use? Thank you.
Is the 35 minute cook time for dry beans using soaked or unsoaked beans?
soaked
Hi
I would like to make this in the oven or regular pot. What would be the time of cooking? Thank you so much. I love all your recipes.
The oven directions are listed above.
Brown sugar. 2 points. Sounds like a winner!
HOLY YUM! I can’t wait to try this! Thank you for all your recipes! You’re my go to 🙂
Turned out fantastic! Just the right amount of sweet. I turned my pot to sauté for a couple of minutes to thicken it up a bit, but it would have been great without it too.
These were delicious
Can this be frozen?
Is this recipe 2,4 or 6 WW points.
2 freestyle points or 4 points +.
Incredible! I have always loved baked beans but hate when they are sticky sweet. These were creamy and just sweet enough. I used extra northern in place of kidney because that’s what I had. I think next time I will make them from soaked beans. Sautéed two slices of chopped bacon in the pot before adding the other ingredients. Used half maple syrup half brown sugar and omitted the chili powder.
Super easy and delicious! Will definitely make again!
I haven’t eaten baked beans in years because of the sugar and points. This recipe is delicious. I don’t have an instant pot so I sautéed the onions until soft and then baked everything in the oven for 45 minutes at 360 degrees. I could have bakedthem a little longer but my husband and I both loved them. Will make again especially during the summer months for barbecues. Gina, you’re a recipe genius!
These beans were absolutely delicious–even more than I expected them to be! They were not OVERLY sweet, but they had a good amount of sweetness and tasted just like the oniony/sweet baked beans we all know and love.. I made them in the Instant Pot and the cook time was perfect. The beans did not get mushy, and everything was very flavorful. I paired them with 93/7 hamburger patties and broccoli slaw. We will definitely be making this a regular in with our dinner rotation! The only other thing I will note is that when I used the WW Recipe Builder with the ingredients, it actually produced 3 FSP, but it’s completely worth it. 🙂
great, I will double check the points.
These are so yummy Gina! Thank you! I made them in my slow cooker and they turned out perfectly saucy. The only change I made was using applewood rub seasoning instead if chili powder because I was out. I look forward to making them again.
These were delish, and much lower points than canned baked beans. I used kidney, white canellini and black beans. Added 1 jalapeno diced and 1 tbs of worchesterchire. Simmered on the stove for about one hour. Great side for BBQ night.
I just made these—they are delicious! Thank you Gina! I followed the instapot directions. Mine had a lot of liquid unlike canned baked beans, however, they taste soooo good! Definitely a new summer staple!
Definitely will make again. Actually tastes better once it’s been in the fridge a day or two!
Sounds delish but I DETEST mustard….can I substitute it with something else or if i leave it out will it still taste ok?