Josef Lorenz

Grandma Brown's Saucepan Beans with Bacon
Servings: 9

To Central New Yorkers, Grandma Brown's Baked Beans were a staple at backyard barbecues, family picnics, and cookouts for generations. The company was founded by Lulu Brown in 1937 and operated out of a small warehouse in Mexico, NY, until it closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Operations have not resumed since.
The company had three lesser-known, Depression-era products besides their claim-to-fame Baked Beans. These were: Split Pea Soup, Saucepan Beans, and Bean Soup.
Below is my recipe for Grandma Brown's Saucepan Beans with Bacon. You'll find the recipe contains the exact ingredients (no more, no less) of what was listed on the back of the cans. Feel free to doctor this up however you like.

Ingredients
1 pound (about 2 cups) dried navy beans
Water, for soaking and cooking
6 slices bacon, finely chopped
1 cup tomato ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

Steps
1. Rinse the dried navy beans under cold water and remove any debris. Place the beans in a large bowl and cover with water. Allow them to soak overnight or for at least 8 hours.
2. Drain and rinse the soaked beans. In a large saucepan or pot, combine the navy beans with enough water to cover them by about 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the beans are tender but not mushy. Drain and set aside.
3. In the same saucepan or a separate skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy.
4. Add the tomato ketchup and brown sugar to the pot with the remaining bacon. Stir well to combine and heat over medium-low heat until the mixture is simmering.
5. Add the cooked navy beans to the saucepan with the bacon, ketchup, and brown sugar mixture. Stir everything together until the beans are coated with the sauce.
6. Allow the saucepan beans to simmer over low heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.