How to Cook Beans in the Oven

There are several ways you can cook beans, but nothing beats making baked beans in the oven! Learn how to bake pinto beans in the oven to create a flavorful, savory dish that perfectly pairs with grilled sriracha barbecue chicken and easy grilled corn for a summer staple side dish!

Don’t you love great cooking hacks? Well, I have a hack so good for you today that it just might blow your socks off! It’s almost as good as learning how to seed a pomegranate without staining every surface of the kitchen and all the clothing you're wearing.

It’s really that good.

Today, we’re going to talk about how to bake beans in the oven in just minutes. Yep, you read that right. This recipe takes you from dried pinto beans to a delicious savory side dish in 75 minutes. And, all without the need to soak the beans or cook all day long!

There really is no comparison between canned beans and home-cooked beans, in my opinion, but all too often, there just isn’t enough time to make beans. They usually require overnight soaking and anywhere from six to ten hours of cooking. That’s a LOT of time!

Since it usually takes so much time, it’s nearly impossible to make baked beans without proper planning. Until now! This trick lets you make delicious home-cooked beans in just over an hour, and when you taste them, you’ll swear they cooked for hours.

My favorite part about these baked beans in the oven is that you can season them any way you like. I used a pretty classic savory seasoning combination but feel free to mix it up (check out the ideas below).

Key Ingredients For Baking Beans In The Oven

All you need are just a few ingredients to make this baked beans recipe! Here's what you need:

• Dry Pinto Beans: I personally like the heartiness of pinto beans. If you don’t have any, black beans would be the bean closest to pinto beans in size and flavor. You could also substitute navy beans or great northern beans.
• Salt & Pepper: Classic seasoning combo! Feel free to adjust the recommended amounts to your taste preferences.
• Garlic: I prefer to use fresh garlic cloves because the dried equivalent just doesn’t have as much flavor. However, you can use dried garlic cloves in a pinch; just use a little more!
• Bay Leaves: This is the ‘secret’ ingredient that you don’t want to leave out. It adds depth of flavor and just the slightest floral notes to these baked beans.
• Water: We’re adding just enough to rehydrate the beans and create that baked bean consistency you crave. Some like to use chicken or veggie broth to add a few more layers of flavor.
• Jalapeno: This is entirely optional, but if you enjoy just a tiny amount of heat, adding diced jalapeno peppers adds a layer of spiciness to these baked beans in the oven that takes them from ‘yum’ to ‘wow’.

Note: For a complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make these baked beans in the oven, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

How to Make Beans in the Oven

There are a few key steps to making beans in the oven. Once you know these steps, you can bake all different types of beans using this oven baked method.

1. Rinse the dry beans and pick out any debris or small stones.
2. Add the beans to a glass or ceramic baking dish in the oven. Add any aromatics like onions, garlic, spices to the beans to add flavor as they cook. 
3. Add water or broth. Make sure to cover the beans with at least one inch of water.
4. Cover the beans and bake at 325 degrees for about 1 hour and fifteen minutes. Check for doneness and if they aren't softened yet, cook for another 15-30 minutes until tender. 
5. Drain any excess liquid. 

Do you have to soak beans before baking?

When you are making these quick beans in the oven, you do not have to soak them beforehand. Just make sure to give them a good rinse before cleaning off any debris.

If you prefer to soak your beans first, you can soak them overnight. Then check the beans for doneness at the hour mark.

What To Serve With Beans

Once you learn how to bake beans in the oven, you have a simple and delicious side dish that you can make any time of the year!

Here are some ideas for dishes to pair with these beans.

• Vegetables: Serve this beans recipe with grilled cauliflower, honey garlic roasted carrots, or honey-roasted sweet potatoes.
• Main dishes: Its simplicity makes it perfect for pairing with many different main dishes, including slow cooker pork, maple pork tenderloin, BBQ turkey breast, or slow cooker ropa vieja.

Try adding these recipes to your weekly meal prep plan so you are never bored again!

Recipe Tips And Ideas

Learning how to bake beans in the oven is an easy process. Try it one time, and you’ll be hooked on this cooking method!

• If you want to try cooking these pinto beans another way, try cooking them in the crockpot!
• Have too many baked pinto beans? Make a quick batch of refried beans to eat with your tacos.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Beans In The Oven

Here are some questions I often get asked about by some readers…

How long do these beans stay fresh?

I recommend storing the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days!

How do I reheat these beans?

You may find that when you store the beans in the fridge, they tend to get pretty thick. Try adding just a little bit of water when you reheat them, so they don’t dry out.

You can also heat them on the stove or in the oven (at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes).

Can I freeze these oven baked beans?

Absolutely! When stored in a freezer-safe, airtight container, they will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to use them, simply thaw them out in the fridge overnight, then heat them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

More Delicious Bean Recipes You'll Love:

• Simple Crockpot Pinto Beans
• Slow Cooker Black Beans
• Stewed Basil Pesto White Beans
• Black Bean and Corn Salad
• Cuban Black Bean Bowls