If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store staring at a can of baked beans and wondered, “Wait… are these vegan?” — you are definitely not alone! Baked beans are a favourite comfort food around the world, but the ingredients inside the can can sometimes be confusing.
In this guide, we’ll break everything down in a way so you can quickly understand what’s vegan, what’s not, and how to make your favorite baked beans fully plant-based.
🥫 Are Store-Bought Baked Beans Vegan?
The short answer? Many canned vegetarian baked beans are vegan… but not all.
There are so many brands and flavours of baked beans—original, smoky, maple, spicy, BBQ—and sometimes the label doesn’t clearly say if they’re vegan.
Here’s where it gets tricky:
Some baked beans are made with bacon, lard, pork fat, honey, or sausage, which makes them not vegan.
But other cans labelled “vegetarian” usually skip these ingredients, and many end up being vegan-friendly even if the label doesn’t say “vegan.”
So why the confusion? Let’s look deeper.
🔍 Why Aren’t All Vegetarian Baked Beans Marked Vegan?
Even though many vegetarian baked beans seem vegan, the companies don’t always put a vegan label on the can. Why? There are a few possible reasons:
1. Hidden non-vegan flavourings
Some ingredients—especially “natural flavours”—may include animal-based additives.
2. Sugar processing concerns
In some countries, sugar can be filtered using bone char. Some companies avoid calling their product vegan because they cannot guarantee the sugar source.
3. Slow label updates
Sometimes the recipe is vegan, but the packaging hasn’t been updated.
4. Company policy
Brands often label something vegan only if they can guarantee every ingredient and process is 100% free from animal contact.
This can be confusing and frustrating, especially for new vegans who are trying to learn what is safe to buy.
🍁 What About Bush’s Baked Beans?
Bush’s is a famous baked beans brand in the US, and many people wonder if their vegetarian baked beans are vegan.
They list their ingredients online, but they still do not label the vegetarian version as vegan. This could be because of sugar processing or something in the flavouring that isn’t guaranteed to be vegan.
Many vegans still choose to eat them because there are no obvious non-vegan ingredients on the label—but everyone should decide what feels right for them.
🥣 Are Homemade Baked Beans Vegan?
Homemade baked beans can be vegan—but it depends on the recipe.
Not vegan if the recipe includes:
- lard
- bacon
- pork sausage
- honey
Vegan if the recipe uses:
- white beans
- tomato sauce
- spices
- maple syrup or agave
- vegan sausage or vegan bacon (optional)
The good news? There are thousands of vegan baked bean recipes online, and they’re incredibly easy to make!
What Exactly Are Baked Beans?
Different cultures have their own styles of beans, but for this article, we’re talking about white beans cooked in a sweet tomato sauce, often with mustard, molasses, or smoky spices.
Baked beans are extremely popular in the UK (especially on toast!) and in North America, where they are often served as a side dish.
But I Love the Smoky, Meaty, Non-Vegan Baked Beans!
Great news—you can still enjoy the same flavours without animal products!
Here’s how to make your favourite “non-vegan” baked bean styles completely plant-based.
🐷 Vegan “Pork Sausage” Baked Beans
- Slice your favourite vegan sausage (Beyond Meat works great!)
- Fry until browned
- Add canned baked beans and heat through
🥓 Vegan Bacon & Maple Baked Beans
Method 1:
- Fry sliced vegan bacon until crispy
- Add baked beans + a little maple syrup
Method 2:
- Heat baked beans
- Add a few drops of liquid smoke and a little maple extract
- Adjust to taste
🔥 Smoky Baked Beans
- Add liquid smoke or smoked paprika
🌶️ Chilli Baked Beans
- Cook vegan ground meat
- Add baked beans, jalapeños, and chilli spices
🧪 Non-Vegan Ingredients + Easy Vegan Substitutes
| Non-vegan ingredient | Vegan substitute |
|---|---|
| Honey | Maple syrup, agave nectar, or maple extract |
| Pork sausage | Vegan sausage |
| Bacon | Vegan bacon, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, or vegan bacon seasoning |
| Ground beef | Vegan mince (Beyond Meat, Gardein, etc.) |
These swaps make it super easy to keep your baked beans vegan without losing any flavour.
🥄 So… Are Baked Beans Vegan?
Many vegetarian baked beans are vegan, but always check the ingredients list.
If you want to be completely sure, look for brands that say “vegan” on the label or try a homemade version.
The most important thing? Enjoy your baked beans the way you like them—kind to animals and delicious!
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💬 Let’s Chat!
Do you have a favourite vegan baked beans brand? Or a homemade recipe you love? Tell us in the comments so other travellers can try it too!
