Dinner

Healthy Baked Beans with Passata, Dates, and Jacket Potatoes Recipe

BySophie Carsel January 28, 2026January 28, 2026

Introduction

This healthy baked beans recipe is a flavorful and comforting dish perfect for any meal. Made with pantry staples and naturally sweetened with dates, it’s a nutritious twist on a classic favorite. Serve it warm over fluffy jacket potatoes for a satisfying treat.

The image shows three baked potatoes with golden brown, slightly crispy skins, each cut open and filled with glossy orange-red baked beans coated in thick sauce, sprinkled lightly with black pepper; they are arranged on a rustic metal tray with some sauce spilled around them. To the right, there is a black pan with a wooden handle full of the same beans in sauce, looking rich and chunky, with visible beans and bits of tomato. A wooden spoon partly covered with sauce lies near the pan, and a white cloth with green stripes is placed below the pan and spoon. The setting is on a white marbled textured surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 tsp rapeseed oil
1 large onion (185g), finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
500g passata
3 pitted dates (about 15g), roughly chopped
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp bouillon powder
1 bay leaf
3 x 400g cans haricot beans, drained
4 medium cooked jacket potatoes

Instructions

Step 1: Heat the rapeseed oil in a non-stick saucepan over low heat. Fry the finely chopped onion for about 5 minutes until golden, adding a drop of water if it begins to stick or burn.
Step 2: Stir in the grated garlic, then add the passata, chopped dates, balsamic vinegar, bouillon powder, and bay leaf. Season with plenty of black pepper and let the mixture simmer gently for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Add the drained haricot beans and 400ml of water to the pan. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens to your liking.
Step 4: Serve the baked beans hot spooned over cooked jacket potatoes for a delicious and wholesome meal.

Tips & Variations

For extra flavor, try adding smoked paprika or a pinch of chili flakes to the sauce.
Swap haricot beans for cannellini or navy beans if preferred.
If you like a smoother sauce, lightly mash some of the beans before simmering.

Storage

Allow the baked beans to cool completely before transferring to airtight containers or freezer bags. Freeze for up to three months. To reheat, thaw thoroughly in the fridge overnight and warm in a pan until piping hot. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days.

How to Serve

The image shows three baked potatoes placed on a gray metal tray over a white marbled textured surface. Each potato is split open on top with soft yellow insides visible and generously filled with bright red baked beans. The beans have a glossy, slightly thick sauce and some black pepper sprinkled on top. To the right of the tray is a round black pan with a wooden handle, filled with more baked beans in the same red sauce. Below the pan is a wooden spoon with some beans and sauce on it, lying on the tray partially over a white cloth with green stripes on the right side. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use fresh beans instead of canned?

Yes, but fresh beans will need to be soaked overnight and cooked until tender before adding to the recipe. This will increase the overall cooking time.