How to make Heinz Baked Beans at home.

Heinz Baked Beans Recipe

Whether part of a full English breakfast, a quick lunch or snack, or an accompaniment to a British dinner, Heinz Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce are one of the most iconic foods you can find in the pantry of just about any house in the UK. Here in the US though, they can be difficult to find, and are often ridiculously expensive if you do.

There are a few recipes to be found online, but they all seem to want to over-complicate this recipe by adding bizarre and unnecessary ingredients that we know aren’t in Heinz Baked Beans (Worchester sauce? Chicken stock? . . . WTF!?!?), and while they initially looked promising, they tend to be a more Americanized version of baked beans; far too sweet and bold-flavored, whereas Heinz Baked Beans are much more subtle-tasting and have a thinner sauce.

There are plenty of clues online as to what is in the original Heinz recipe; the most telling of which was to compare the ingredients of Heinz Ketchup with the ingredients of Heinz Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce. Other than the beans, of course, they’re almost identical, although the proportions are obviously different.

So if you’re a Brit in America (or outside of Europe) and have a craving for Beans on Toast, give this easy recipe a try. I think it’s about as close to the real thing as you’re ever going to find.

Heinz Baked Beans Copycat Recipe

Heinz Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce Copycat Recipe

Recipe Author :JimP
A damn near perfect and super-simple clone recipe of the infamous UK favorite – Heinz Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce.
5 from 7 votes
Approximate Cost: $1.25
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch, Side Dish
Cuisine British
Servings 4 people
Calories 40 kcal

Ingredients:
  

  • 1 16oz can of navy beans. (a.k.a. haricot beans)
  • ½ cup cold water.
  • ¼ cup tomato ketchup. (Heinz, Hunts, or other good quality brand)
  • 1 ½ tsp. distilled white vinegar.
  • 2 tsp. granulated sugar.
  • ½ tsp. onion powder.
  • ½ tsp. paprika.
  • ½ tsp. salt.
  • tsp. black pepper.
  • 1 tbsp. corn starch mixed with 2 tbsp. cold water.

Directions:
 

  • Add all ingredients (except the beans and cornstarch mixture) to a medium saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring frequently.
  • While you're waiting for the sauce to boil, mix the cornstarch with an equal amount of water to make a slurry, drain and rinse the beans. Once the sauce is boiling, add the cornstarch mixture and continue to stir continuously until the sauce thickens. Remember that Heinz baked beans aren't like American beans, so the sauce shouldn't be thick and gloopy.
  • Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.
  • Add the beans and cook over low heat for another 2-3 minutes, stirring gently but frequently so that the beans don't stick to the bottom of the pan, then serve.
    Stirring Heinz Baked Beans

Recipe Notes:

Store extras in the fridge in an airtight container, and use within a few days.
Rate this Recipe
KeywordsBeans on Toast, Heinz Beans

11 thoughts on “Heinz Beans in Tomato Sauce Recipe

  1. Arlene Meadows says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe. Like it says in the description, I found a lot of recipes online that turned out nothing like Heinz beans. When I recently bought the canned ones at Publix, I found that the flavour was much more bland than I remembered. These are much more like the Heinz Baked Beans I had growing up. A little richer and tangier than the watery ones on the shelves nowadays and just like I remembered them to be. I won’t be buying them at the grocery store again. Thank you!

  2. Jayne Esnor says:

    5 stars
    Just like the real thing!!! Really easy to make and so tasty. We made beans on toast with English toasting bread which reminded me of home. I’ll never buy Heinz beans in a can again.

  3. Pat Williams says:

    5 stars
    These were very easy to make and taste just like the ones from the can. I can’t find them anywhere in my area of Virginia, so thank you for the recipe.

    • Jim P. says:

      So glad you liked them, Pat. I found Heinz Baked Beans in Publix, but $4 for a handful of beans and a few pennies worth of ingredients seemed ridiculous to me.

    • Jim P. says:

      Hi Lynne,

      I have no idea. I love to cook, but I’ve never canned anything in my life. Search Google for water batch canning forums; I’m sure there are plenty of people on those sites who would be able to advise you better than me. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.

        • Lynne B says:

          5 stars
          I made the beans! The only thing different I did was add (2)cans of navy beans (15.5 oz each). Came out great! I will freeze the leftovers. Thanks again.

          • Jim P. says:

            Great! Glad you liked them, Lynne!

            I’ve adjusted the recipe as the original one did make a bit more sauce than needed for just one can of beans, but I felt it wasn’t quite enough for 2 cans.

            I’d love to hear how well they freeze. I’ve never tried it as I was concerned the beans might become mushy when thawed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating