The Best Vegan Baked Beans

Name: The Best Vegan Baked Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 small yellow onion (chopped small); 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup pure maple syrup; 1/2 cup ketchup (or tomato sauce); 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon yellow mustard; 1-2 teaspoons Sriracha hot sauce (to taste); 1/2 cup water; (2) 15-ounce cans small navy beans (drained and rinsed, see Notes)

These easy Vegan Baked Beans transform pantry staple ingredients into a sweet, smoky, and savory barbecue dish. Never settle for canned baked beans again!

For more vegan barbecue recipes, check out my Vegan Potato Salad, Best Veggie Burger, and Watermelon Feta Salad.

a spoon scooping up a bite of vegan baked beans from a casserole dish.

Is it really a summer barbecue without the baked beans? I certainly don’t think so! Luckily, being vegan doesn’t mean we have to skip this saucy, maple-smoked classic or (worse) settle for the canned baked beans.

If you’ve been missing this potluck staple, then you need to try my Vegan Baked Beans. They’re seriously the best and great any time of the year!

These oven-baked beans have the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors and are incredibly easy to make with only 10 minutes of hands-on prep time. Best of all, they’re an instant hit at any barbecue or family dinner (yes, even with the kids!).

Are baked beans vegan?

Baked beans are not usually vegan because they’re often made with pork, like bacon or ham. This is easy to omit, though, making it easy to make a just-as-tasty plant-based version.

My vegan baked bean recipe captures the same smoky, sweet, and maple flavors as a classic baked bean recipe. This is all thanks to canned beans and a sauce made up of mostly pantry staples! You can add crumbled tofu bacon or tempeh bacon in with the beans if you’re missing the meaty qualities but I find that they’re just as good without it.

the red sauce for vegan baked beans in a skillet.

How to make the best vegan baked beans

Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

Sauté the onion in a large oiled pot over medium heat until translucent.

Add the molasses, brown sugar, maple syrup, ketchup, salt, smoked paprika, apple cider vinegar, vegan Worcestershire sauce, mustard, Sriracha hot sauce, and water to the pot. Stir well to combine, then add in the drained and rinsed navy beans.

white beans and a baked bean sauce in a skillet.

using a wooden spoon to stir white beans into a baked bean sauce.

Transfer the bean mixture to a large casserole dish and cover it with foil or a lid. Alternatively, use an oven safe pan/Dutch oven for both sautéing and baking.

uncooked vegan baked beans in a casserole dish.

Bake the beans for 1 hour, then remove the foil and continue baking until the sauce has thickened and is beautifully caramelized on top (about 30 minutes).

Serve your warm vegetarian baked bean casserole with your favorite BBQ sides and enjoy!

cooked vegan baked beans in a casserole dish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you serve vegan BBQ baked beans?

I can’t think of a better way to serve baked beans than at a summer barbecue. Their smoky and sweet flavors make them the perfect partner for Vegan Macaroni Salad, BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Vegan Collard Greens, and Vegan Cheese Grits. Make sure you bake a batch of my Vegan Cornbread, too. It’s perfect for soaking up the sauce!

You can also serve vegan baked beans as a side dish with any comforting dinner. Think Vegan Mac and Cheese, Roasted Potato Wedges, Veggie Burgers, etc.

Can I make vegetarian baked beans in a slow cooker?

I haven’t personally tried cooking the baked beans in a crockpot; however, other readers tried it and had great results! I’d recommend sautéing the onions on the stove before combining them with the rest of the ingredients in your slow cooker and cooking the beans on Low for 5 to 6 hours.

What about the Instant Pot?

This recipe was originally published as an Instant Pot recipe but I changed it after readers were getting burn notices. This usually happened during the last part, when the sauce was added to the pot.

Here’s how I make vegan baked beans in the Instant Pot without getting a burn message: Add 1 pound of dried navy beans and 6 cups of water to the Instant Pot. Seal the lid, close the steam valve, and set to the bean setting for 25 minutes. Do a natural release, then drain the beans.

Next, whisk the sauce ingredients in a bowl (except for the onions) and sauté the onion in the oiled pot using the sauté setting. Turn off sauté mode and stir in the sauce and beans. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes, then do a natural release.

What kind of beans are best for baked beans?

Baked bean recipes are traditionally made with small navy beans, but other white beans work just as well, like cannellini, lima, or Great Northern beans. Pinto beans are also a delicious option!

Can I substitute dried navy beans for canned beans?

You can, but it will take longer. To make this with dry navy beans, soak 1 1/3 cups of navy beans in water overnight. Drain and rinse the next day, then add them to a large pot with just enough water to cover the beans. Gently boil the water for about 1 hour or until the beans are tender. Continue with the recipe as normal.

How do you store baked beans? Are they freezer-friendly?

The cooled baked beans can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let the frozen leftovers thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat the beans on the stovetop or in the microwave.