Heinz Beans, produced in England, are a staple for many Brits both in the UK and abroad. If you’ve ever been to the UK, you might have been surprised to see the beans included in a full English breakfast. Heinz beans are the ultimate in comfort food, no matter how they are served.
The UK version of Heinz beans is an absolute favorite of the Master Taste Tester. Through the years, I tried unsuccessfully to reproduce this humble product. However, RecipeTin Eats published a copycat recipe that looked so much like the real thing that I just had to give it a try. They were about as close to the real thing as I could have imagined.
About Heinz Beans
Heinz is an American company founded in 1869 in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1886, Heinz baked beans were exported to England and first sold in Fortnum & Masons.
Originally, the beans included pork and much more sugar than now. Over the years, the sugar level was decreased to suit the British taste. Because of meat shortages during World War II, pork was omitted.
Some significant differences exist between the Heinz beans produced in the UK and those produced in the US. The two main differences are the sugar level and the sodium level.
The US variety has twice the amount of sugar, and almost double the amount of sodium, both of which are unnecessary, at least in my opinion.
Today Heinz beans are produced near Wigan, in Northwest England. The Wigan factory is the largest food factory in Europe. An astonishing 3 million cans are produced every day. Of that, over 2 million cans of beans are consumed every day in the UK.
If you’re interested, you should check out the Inside the Factory episode showing the amazing process whereby these delicious beans are produced.
Ingredients: Here’s What You’ll Need
- The Beans: While different beans can be used, my choice was the dried Navy bean, known as the haricot bean in other countries. This is the bean that is used to make the Heinz beans.
- The Liquid: The liquid noted on the Heinz can is water. However, I used a combination of chicken broth and water. I also included some Worcestershire sauce and cider vinegar.
- Tomato: I used two types of tomato products: (1) Ketchup; and (2) Tomato Paste.
- The Spices: For the spices, I used garlic powder, onion powder, Kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- The Sweetener: My sweetener of choice was light brown sugar.
- The Magic Ingredient: Towards the end of cooking, the beans needed a thickener to produce the telltale sauce. I used none other than cornstarch for this.
Step 1: Soaking the Beans
Because the beans are dried, they need to be reconstituted. This is done by soaking the beans in water.
Two methods can be used to soak the beans: (1) long-soak in cold water; or (2) quick-soak in boiling water. I tried both methods and prefer the quick-soak method because it’s quicker and does as good a job as the long-soak method.
With the quick-soak method, I rinsed the dried beans and added about 6 cups of filtered water to them in a Dutch oven. I heated the water to boiling and let the beans boil for about 2 minutes. Then, I removed the pan from the stove, covered it, and let the beans soak for about an hour.
Step 2: Cooking the Beans
After the beans soaked for an hour, I drained and rinsed them. Now, it was time to cook the beans.
I returned the soaked beans to the Dutch oven and covered them with about 6 cups of filtered water. I brought the beans to a boil. Then, I reduced the heat to medium-low, covered the pan, and cooked the beans for about 45 minutes, just until the beans were tender, but still slightly firm on the inside. The actual time will vary depending on the beans.
After 45 minutes the beans were perfect. They were soft on the outside and slightly firm on the inside. I wanted to be careful not to overcook the beans at this point. The reason was that the beans still needed some cooking in the sauce.
Once the beans were cooked, I drained them and set them aside to make the sauce.
Step 3: Making the Sauce
Beans are beans. However, it’s the sauce that defines Heinz beans.
Making the sauce is super simple. Basically, I whisked together all of the sauce ingredients in the same Dutch oven that I used to cook the beans. That’s it!
Step 4: Finishing the Heinz Beans
Once I had whisked together the sauce ingredients, I added the cooked beans to the Dutch oven. I stirred everything together and set the Dutch oven over medium heat.
After the mixture came to a slow boil, I reduced the heat to medium-low and cooked the beans uncovered for about 20 minutes, until the beans were perfectly done.
After 20 minutes, a poured in a slurry of cornstarch and water. I stirred the beans constantly until the sauce had thickened.
The transformation was amazing. Before my very eyes, the soupy, nondescript mixture turned into thick tomato-coated beans that looked just like the Heinz beans!
I let the beans cook for about five more minutes before removing them from the heat.
How I Serve Heinz Beans
Heinz beans are amazingly versatile. All that is required is to heat them up either in the microwave or on the stovetop.
We like to eat them plain as a side for when we have turkey burgers without the mushroom cream sauce or with British sausage rolls. For breakfast, they are amazing when served with British sausage.
When we want the ultimate in simplicity and comfort food, we have beans on toast. This may sound odd to Americans but is delicious.
Sometimes, we do as the British do and have a jacket potato (a.k.a. baked potato) loaded with Heinz beans. This may also sound odd to Americans. However, it’s delicious.
This recipe for Heinz Beans is about as close to the real thing as I can imagine. If you’re a fan of this British staple, you should give the recipe a try. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
I like to use filtered water to minimize any added flavor from unfiltered water. However, it’s fine to use unfiltered water if you so choose.
For a vegetarian recipe, you can either omit the chicken broth and replace it with the same quantity of water or use vegetable broth.
As the beans cook, they tend to produce foam on top of the water. You can spoon the foam off, or just leave it. Over time, the foam will disappear.
Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat the beans in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Other British Recipes
If you’re a fan of British food like I am, you should try these amazing recipes:
This is a repost of the Copycat Heinz Beans from May 18, 2020. This repost includes the same great recipe with the cooking times tweaked a bit from the original post. It also includes updated text and photographs.
I first posted this amazing recipe on May 18, 2020. Since then, I’ve made this recipe number of times. This update contains improved text and photographs. It also includes the same great recipe, with the cooking times tweaked a bit.
I hope you liked this recipe for Copycat Heinz Beans as much as I do. If so, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. Also, if you’d like to receive notifications of new posts by email, enter your email address in the Subscribe box.
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Heinz Beans (Copycat)
Ingredients
The Beans
- 16 ounces (2 cups) dried Navy beans
- Water for soaking the beans (See Tip 1)
The Sauce
- 2 cups (16-ounces) chicken broth (See Tip 2)
- 1 cup (8-ounces) water
- 6 Tablespoons ketchup (See Tip 3)
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
The Thickener
- 2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
The Beans
- Rinse the beans well. Place in a Dutch oven or large saucepan. Cover with water (I used 6 cups). Bring to a boil over high heat; boil for 2 minutes. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 1 hour. (See Tip 4)
- Drain and rinse beans. Return to Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium low. Cover pan and cook until the beans are tender but still hold their shape, 45 minutes to 1 hour. (See Tips 5 and 6)
- Drain beans in colander. Set aside.
The Sauce
- Whisk together the chicken broth, water, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper in the same pan as was used to cook the beans. Add the cooked and drained beans.
- Heat over medium heat until mixture starts to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally or until the beans are perfectly cooked.
The Thickener
- Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Slowly add to bean mixture, stirring constantly until sauce thickens. Continue cooking for five minutes.
- Yield: 14 servings. (See Tip 7)
Chula’s Expert Tips
- I always use filtered water when I soak beans and when I cook them. Is this absolutely necessary? Probably not. However, I want to minimize added flavor to the beans from unfiltered water.
- I used low sodium chicken broth. For a vegetarian dish, use vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth.
- I used low sugar ketchup, but you can use regular ketchup if you prefer.
- As the beans cook, they tend to produce foam on top of the water. You can spoon the foam off, or just leave it. Over time, the foam will disappear.
- Watch the beans carefully to ensure that they aren’t over-cooked. You want them to still be very slightly firm in the center. The reason is that the beans will continue to cook in the sauce.
- The timing is based on using the quick-soak method. If you prefer, you can soak the beans over night or up to 24 hours in cold water. With this soaking method, the beans will take longer to cook – between 1 hour and 1 ½ hours.
- Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat the beans in the microwave or on the stove top.
Love this recipe, though I reduce the sugar,as I don’t like sweet things.I’m a Brit and I like this as much as Heinz
Thanks so much for your comment Helen. My husband is a Brit as well and feels the same way about the level of sugar.
Chula
The Heinz factory is in WIGAN. not Wigin
You’re right – thanks for the correction.
This was easy and so delicious
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I’ve tried several others trying to reproduce Heinz so I don’t have to pay $2+ a can here in the US. Yours is by far the closest and best and my Brit husband and I are enjoying them! I reduced the ketchup and the sugar so they wouldn’t be too sweet.
Thanks so much Liz. My husband is also a Brit. Next time I make these, I’m going to try to reduce the sweetness further as you suggested.
Chula
Very close to the original. I add extra flavour and calories by stirring in a knob of butter at the very end. Or, as long as you are going for full-on flavour, a TBS or two of bacon fat will have a similar effect. This sauce in particular can hold a lot of fat – just don’t get sillly.
Thanks so much Laurence. I totally agree that adding some butter or bacon fat would be a delicious addition!
Chula
I’m excited to have found this recipe! But a note on the quick-soak method, it landed me with rock-hard beans that didn’t cook properly. I did it exactly as you described…. but the beans were terribly undercooked, and I had to throw it all out and just head up leftovers instead for our dinner.. (I tried to cook the beans longer in the sauce to make up for it but that just caused the liquid to reduce so I was left with something unedible.) I am going to try again with cans of beans; the sauce tasted marvelous and I’m VERY excited for this. But just wanted to let you know, that perhaps depending on altitude or whatever other factors might influence the cooking of beans, it might be best for people to soak/pre-cook their beans well ahead of making the recipe… and to be prepared that the quick-soak method may not work for them. thanks!!
Hi Kim,
I’m so sorry that the quick soak method didn’t work for you. I’d love to hear how making the Heinz beans with canned beans works out for you.
Chula
Delicious you want spicy for BBQ SEASON …… I’ve added to fresh jalapenos to add some spice worked very well. My go to baked beans recipe
Thank you so much for this recipe.It’S perfect.
This recipe is spot on. I always reduce the sugar. I use erythritol instead of sugar. When I’m doing a quick soak I bring the beans to the boil, remove from the heat and add a scant teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and soak for 1 hour. Then drain and rinse and cook in fresh water. Works every time.
Thanks for the tips Donna!
Chula
Silly question. Might have missed this but, How much is a serving? 1/2 c. Like the can says?
Crystal, yes a serving is approximately 1/2 cup.
Chula
Hi! Am looking forward to trying this, but please clarify the measurement of beans- you say 16 ounces but that is a pound- do you mean fluid ounces? If so could you tell me the weight ? I have a bag of 700 grams ie about 1.5 pounds of beans to use up , and don’t want to miscalculate !
Thanks in advance!
Jennifer,
Sorry for the confusion. The 16-ounces is by weight, or a pound, or 454 grams.
Chula
Thanks for the speedy reply!
Looking forward to my beans!
Jennifer
Looks good. I opened a tin of heinz beans this morning and it drowned my toast. There appears to be more water than beans. The tin states 51 % beans and 34% tomato. That should leave 25% liquid. It looked more like 50%. I used cheese with it which usually thickens the mix, but it was definitely watery.
I can’t buy onion powder here in France, Will it affect the recipe too much to make it without or is there a substitute?
Thanks in advance
Hi Julie,
It’s such a small amount given the other ingredients that I think that it would be fine to make the recipe without the onion powder.
Chula
Just wondering if I could half the recipe! Excited to try these 🙂
Lori,
I haven’t tried making this recipe by cutting it in half. However, with the ingredients and the steps making the recipe, I don’t see why it would be a problem.
If you do cut the recipe in half, I’d love to hear how it turned out!
Chula
I’m excited to try this recipe … I love Heinz beans but rather expensive here in British Columbia. A quick question regarding the brown sugar, please. I have brown sugar but it isn’t light. Will that affect the flavour?
Lynne,
Dark brown sugar should be fine.
Chula
iIVE MADE THIS IN THE PAST BUT LOST THE RECIPE. I LOVE THESE BEANS AND THEY REALLY DO TASTE LIKE THE REAL THING.
BY INVESTING A LITTLE TIME, YOU CAN ALTER THE SODIUM & REDUCE THE SUGAR AS YOU LIKE.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THIS POSTED!
iIVE MADE THIS IN THE PAST BUT LOST THE RECIPE. I LOVE THESE BEANS AND THEY REALLY DO TASTE LIKE THE REAL THING.
BY INVESTING A LITTLE TIME, YOU CAN ALTER THE SODIUM & REDUCE THE SUGAR AS YOU LIKE.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THIS POSTED!
These are one of my favorite as well!
I want to do their maple flavour beans so would I replace the sugar with syrup if so how much
Dorothy,
I have not made the Heinz Beans with syrup in place of the brown sugar. But in general, I would use an equal amount of the maple syrup, i.e., 3 tablespoons, for the 3 tablespoons of brown sugar.
I’d love to hear how this substitution worked!
Chula
Thank you Chula! I fell in love with these beans on my trip to Ireland, but I was disappointed to realize that the same Heinz beans are between four and five bucks a can in my city! Was so thankful to find this well-rated copycat recipe for my favorite beans on toast. Bless you for sharing!
Hope you enjoy them Nikki! For me, beans on toast is the ultimate comfort food!
Chula