Baked Bean Pasta
Pasta stirred into baked beans with onion, garlic and a little cheese for a one-pan supper. Four servings in 20 minutes.
Baked beans are already a sauce. The tomato and bean mix is sweet, a little salty and thick, and with a bit of help it coats pasta as well as any jar.
Fry an onion and a clove or two of garlic in oil to start, since they add the savoury depth the tin lacks. Add a spoon of mustard or Worcestershire sauce for edge, and a pinch of chili for warmth.
Boil the pasta and keep a mug of the water. The starch in it makes the sauce cling instead of pooling, and a splash loosens beans that have thickened in the pan.
Stir everything together for a minute over low heat, so the pasta takes up some of the sauce. Cheese on top finishes the dish. A tin of beans in tomato sauce turns into dinner when it meets a bag of pasta, and both are sold cheaply everywhere. A scatter of black pepper on top and a slice of buttered bread make a full plate.
Quick Answers
How long does Baked Bean Pasta take to make?
About 20 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Baked Bean Pasta?
Keep a mug of pasta water to loosen the beans. Cook the onion until soft so it adds sweetness. Add a dash of hot sauce for more heat.
What should I serve with Baked Bean Pasta?
Green salad; Garlic bread; Steamed broccoli.
How should Baked Bean Pasta be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat with a splash of water.
Is Baked Bean Pasta suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Baked Bean Pasta?
About 595 kcal per serving, with 25 g protein, 99 g carbohydrate and 11 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Baked Bean Pasta: Step by Step
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Boil the penne in salted water until just tender. Keep a mug of the water, then drain.
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Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat and cook the onion for 6 minutes. Add the garlic for 1 minute.
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Stir in the beans, Worcestershire sauce, chili flakes and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes.
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Add the pasta and a splash of the water and toss for 1 minute. Top with the cheese.
Tips That Matter
- Keep a mug of pasta water to loosen the beans.
- Cook the onion until soft so it adds sweetness.
- Add a dash of hot sauce for more heat.
Common Substitutions & Variations
- An eighth of a teaspoon of garlic powder per clove is the usual stand-in when you are out of fresh garlic — it will not caramelise the same way, but it carries the flavour.
What to Serve With It
Green salad · Garlic bread · Steamed broccoli
Keeping and Reheating
Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat with a splash of water.
Baked Bean Pasta Nutrition Facts
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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