National Baked Bean Month
July 1 - July 31
About National Baked Bean Month
National Baked Bean Month runs throughout July 2026 across the United States, celebrating one of the country’s most enduring side dishes. The observance encourages people to cook, share, and enjoy baked beans during the peak season for picnics and barbecues, while recognising the humble bean as a genuinely nutritious staple.
How to Celebrate National Baked Bean Month
July is built for outdoor eating, and baked beans are at the centre of the table. Here are plenty of ways to take part throughout the month.
- Make a pot from scratch – Soak dried navy or haricot beans overnight, then slow-bake them with molasses, mustard and a little salt pork or smoked paprika. Home-cooked beans let you control the sugar and salt that canned versions often pile in.
- Host a barbecue or cookout – Baked beans are the classic partner to hot dogs, burgers, ribs and pulled pork. Invite friends round and make beans the dependable side that ties the whole spread together.
- Run a recipe swap – Every family has its own version, whether it leans sweet, smoky or spicy. Trade recipes with neighbours, colleagues or relatives and try a method that is not your usual go-to.
- Try a regional style – Sample Boston baked beans with their molasses sweetness, then compare them to a Southern recipe with brown sugar and bacon. Tasting the differences is a tasty way to mark the month.
- Cook a healthier batch – Use reduced-sugar tomato sauce, add extra vegetables, or stir in greens to turn beans into more of a main meal. It is an easy way to boost fibre and plant protein.
- Bake beans for breakfast – Beans on toast is a beloved start to the day on both sides of the Atlantic. Top with a poached egg for a filling, protein-rich morning plate.
- Share your creations online – Post photos of your bean dishes, tag your favourite brand, and join the wider conversation. A quick snap of a bubbling casserole dish does the cause justice.
- Donate beans to a food bank – Tinned baked beans are shelf-stable, affordable and filling, making them a welcome donation. Marking the month with a charitable contribution helps people who need a reliable meal.
What is National Baked Bean Month?
National Baked Bean Month is a US food observance held every July that promotes baked beans as a tasty, versatile and nutritious dish. It celebrates the role beans play at summer gatherings, from family picnics to neighbourhood cookouts, and encourages people to discover new recipes and preparations. The month also draws attention to the long history of baked beans in American cooking and to the nutritional value of beans as a source of plant protein and fibre.
When is National Baked Bean Month?
National Baked Bean Month takes place throughout the whole of July, running from Wednesday, 1 July to Friday, 31 July in 2026. It is an annual observance fixed to the month of July, chosen because the summer is peak season for the barbecues and picnics where baked beans so often appear. National Baked Bean Day, a related single-day celebration, falls on 4 July.
The History of National Baked Bean Month
The dish itself is far older than the observance. Baked beans trace their roots to Indigenous peoples of North America, who cooked beans slowly in earthen pits, sweetening and flavouring them with ingredients such as maple syrup and animal fat. European colonists adopted and adapted the method, and over time the dish became closely associated with New England, where Boston baked beans, sweetened with molasses, earned the city the nickname “Beantown”.
Commercial production turned baked beans into a household staple. The Burnham and Morrill Company, better known as B&M, began in Portland, Maine, in 1867 and went on to build a dedicated baked beans factory, baking beans in iron pots using a traditional slow process. In Tennessee, Bush Brothers and Company, founded in 1908 by A.J. Bush, launched Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans in 1969 and became one of the most recognised bean brands in the country, helped along by its long-running advertising featuring Jay Bush and his golden retriever, Duke.
National Baked Bean Month itself is credited to the Michigan Bean Commission, which established the observance in 1981 to promote the benefits of beans and to share recipes ahead of the busy summer entertaining season. July was a natural fit: with so many families gathering for picnics and barbecues, baked beans were already the common side dish bringing those meals together.
Fun Facts About National Baked Bean Month
- Americans are estimated to eat up to 50 million pounds of beans during July alone.
- National Baked Bean Day is observed on 4 July, tying the dish neatly to Independence Day cookouts.
- Boston’s strong association with the dish gave the city its enduring nickname, “Beantown”.
- B&M, founded in 1867, is one of the oldest baked bean producers in the United States and still uses a traditional slow-baking method.
- Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans debuted in 1969 and remains one of America’s best-known bean products.
- The observance was founded in 1981 by the Michigan Bean Commission, a body representing one of the country’s major dry bean growing states.
Why National Baked Bean Month Matters
Beyond the enjoyment of a beloved comfort food, baked beans pack genuine nutritional value. They are high in plant protein and rich in fibre, with around half a cup supplying close to a fifth of the recommended daily intake of fibre, plus useful amounts of iron, zinc and B vitamins. The month is a reminder that an affordable, shelf-stable pantry staple can also be a healthy one, especially when prepared with less added sugar and salt. If you enjoy celebrating seasonal food, you might also like National Grilling Month, which shares July with baked beans and the same outdoor-cooking spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Baked Bean Month?
It is a US food observance held every July that celebrates baked beans as a versatile, nutritious dish and encourages people to cook, share and enjoy them during the summer picnic and barbecue season.
When is National Baked Bean Month in 2026?
It runs throughout July 2026, from Wednesday, 1 July to Friday, 31 July. The related National Baked Bean Day falls on 4 July.
Who started National Baked Bean Month?
The observance is credited to the Michigan Bean Commission, which founded it in 1981 to promote the benefits of beans and to share recipes ahead of the summer entertaining season.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best baked bean dishes on social media with #NationalBakedBeanMonth and #NationalBakedBeanMonth2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to dig out a family recipe and take part throughout July.
Related Awareness Days
- National Eat Your Beans Day – A July celebration of beans of every kind, falling neatly within Baked Bean Month.
- National Grilling Month – Another July food observance devoted to the barbecues where baked beans are a fixture.
- National Picnic Month – A month-long July celebration of outdoor dining, the natural home of a tub of baked beans.
Links
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