While unexpected, our Rhubarb Baked Beans are lightly sweet, slightly tart, and the perfect recipe for a light summer side dish.
Didn’t we tell you rhubarb needs so much more credit than strawberry rhubarb pie?
Last week, we brought you a fantastic, sweet and tangy Rhubarb Slaw, and now, we’re wrapping up this week on the darker side.
Deep and dark. The caramelized flavors of baked beans, that is!
Rhubarb Baked Beans
Would you ever think of throwing rhubarb into a simmering pot of baked beans?
Yeah, us neither.
But, after loving the tang rhubarb gave to last week’s slaw, we started thinking: “What else do we like sweet and tangy?”
While turning some leftover pork into pulled pork sandwiches for dinner one night, a baked bean craving set in, and a crazy inspiration struck.
Now, these aren’t your classic maple and bacon baked beans.
Although, rhubarb and bacon… Now, there’s a combo we should try. Pancakes maybe? Oh, do stay tuned!
But, I digress.

How Do Rhubarb Baked Beans Taste?
These baked beans have a lighter, brighter flavor, but the molasses and low and slow cooking gives them just enough depth to round out the brightness.
You might be surprised by the raisins in there. (Tim sure was!) But, don’t worry. They help to deepen and sweeten the flavors, without having to go overboard on the molasses or sugar.
Give this fun spring-y recipe a try!
Rhubarb Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 tsp salted butter
- 1 ½ c rhubarb, cut into ½” pieces
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced (or 1/4 tsp garlic powder)
- ½ c raisins
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp molasses
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 3 c cooked great northern beans (1 c dry, soaked and cooked or 2-15oz cans, drained)
- 1 c water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Heat butter in a large skillet. Add onions and rhubarb. Sauté over medium high heat until rhubarb begins to soften, 2-3 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients and simmer over medium low heat until the mixture beings to thicken, 3-5 min.
- Transfer the beans to an 8x8 baking dish (or other 1.5-2 quart, oven-proof casserole dish).
- Bake, covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes. Uncover and return the dish to the oven to bake for 15 -20 minutes, until beans are thick and bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
This is one of the recipes from the early days of Curious Cuisiniere. We’ve updated our pictures since we first made it, but we’ve left the original images here as a fun throwback and shout out to how far we’ve come. Enjoy!


If you liked this recipe, here are some similar dishes you may enjoy!

Sarah founded Curious in 2010 as a way to save her recipe creations and share culinary experiences. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from over 10 years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.









Jessie Rasmussen
Thursday 13th of June 2019
Thinking of adding a little brown sugar and bacon and sauteing the onion and rhubarb in the bacon grease.
Sarah Ozimek
Monday 17th of June 2019
That would be fantastic!
Serena Ball
Wednesday 23rd of July 2014
Look great. Pinning now! I have rhubarb in the freezer!
Sarah Reid
Sunday 20th of July 2014
I am definitely trying this out!
thebigmansworld (@TheBigMansWorld)
Saturday 19th of July 2014
Baked beans with a rhubarb twist? What a great idea!
Danielle Omar MS RDN (@2eatwellRD)
Friday 18th of July 2014
So cool! What a clever dish!
Sarah
Friday 18th of July 2014
Thanks Danielle!