1920s Authentic Boston Baked Beans with Molasses Glaze

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

Slow-simmered heirloom navy beans in a sweet-tangy molasses glaze, evoking New England's colonial heritage with modern precision. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 505 minutes pairs heirloom navy beans, unsalted beef broth, dark molasses for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup heirloom navy beans
• 4 cups unsalted beef broth
• 3 tbsp dark molasses
• 1 large, finely diced yellow onion
• 1 medium, grated carrot
• 2, finely diced celery stalk
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaf
• 1 tsp smoked salt
• 1/2 tsp, freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup heirloom navy beans under cold water, discarding any debris, then combine with 4 cups unsalted beef broth in a slow cooker. Add 1 large finely diced yellow onion, 1 medium grated carrot, 2 finely diced celery stalks, 2 fresh thyme sprigs, and 2 bay leaves. Season with 1 tsp smoked salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
2. Step 2: Set slow cooker to LOW and cook for 8 hours until beans are tender but not mushy, stirring once halfway through to prevent sticking.
3. Step 3: After 8 hours, remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Stir in 3 tbsp dark molasses and simmer uncovered on HIGH for 20 minutes, stirring frequently until the glaze thickens and coats the back of a spoon, with deep amber color visible.