How to make the BEST beans on toast! Follow this super easy recipe for a classic British weekday meal that kids will love!
Today I'm sharing my favourite recipe for making the very best version of that king of easy meals - beans on toast! You might be wondering whether this simple meal even needs a recipe, but I have a good reason for sharing this recipe today, and I really hope you'll indulge me by reading why below.
If you're already familiar with Eats Amazing, you'll know what to expect when you land here. This website is all about fun food for kids! I've poured years of creative effort into this blog and whether you found your way here from Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Google or even the Daily Mail, I hope that you have found some of the joy that I have always tried to share here.
Lets get real for a moment though. Much as I might wish it so, life cannot always be marshmallow penguins and cute Easter egg shaped popsicles. Sometimes we can't even muster up the energy to make a plain ordinary sandwich, let alone an elaborate Harry Potter themed bento box.
Sometimes just the effort of scraping together something, anything, vaguely nutritious for our children to eat, seems almost beyond us. And by 'we', I mean me too.
As we enter into a brand new year, I want to share one of the biggest lessons that I learnt last year. Honesty, and authenticity, are SO important. And when you make your living from a blog that is all about finding fun and joy and creativity in food, and your current reality couldn't be further from that joy, then that poses rather a problem.
I want to be honest with you, my lovely readers. Please be patient with me, because this isn't easy to write, and it's going to be even harder to press the publish button on this blog post.
Here is my honest truth: Over the last year, I have suffered a serious breakdown of my mental health. With the help of a wonderful therapist, and the support of some truly amazing friends and family members, I'm currently doing my best to navigate my way out of the bleak darkness of depression.
I don't want to bore you with the details (we'd be here all day!) but I do want to share that as result of that depression, right now I'm stuck in the biggest creative rut I have ever experienced. It's been so long since I created anything new, just for the joy of creating it, that it feels like I've almost forgotten how to do it.
It actually took me several weeks from writing this post to find the energy, motivation, and courage to pick up my camera and photograph a simple plate of beans on toast. Today I found the strength I needed and though it might seem trivial, I am so very proud of myself for managing to take that step.
I'm so desperate to find my way back to the joyful creative person that feels like me. I want to feel again the happiness that comes from looking through the camera lens at my latest fun food creation and knowing that it will make my children smile, and your children smile too.
I want to dance in the kitchen to cheesy tunes whilst I bake, and laugh, and smile, and share that joy with the world. When I started this blog I found my true self in creativity, and without it, I feel completely lost.
So that's why I'm sharing this baked beans on toast recipe today. For the parents that, like me, find that some days they can barely drag themselves out of bed, but do it anyway, because their families need them. You are enough. And if beans on toast is the very best you feel able to make for your children come dinner time today, that is enough too. And if you just can't manage to make this recipe, or even get out of bed today, a tomorrow will come when things will be better, I promise.
Maybe tomorrow will be the day when I find my creative spark again, or maybe it will be next week, or next month, or 6 months from now (I really hope it doesn't take that long!). But whenever it happens, I promise I'll be right here to share it with you. And hopefully the smiles of my children, and the smiles of your children, will inspire many many more fun food creations for years to come.
One more thing - I am so grateful for the wonderful people and brands that I had the chance to work with over the last year, because not only did they help me keep to my business going, but they also provided me with some much needed inspiration when I was struggling to find it by myself.
So to the CBeebies team, Tefal, Babybel, Haribo, Elmlea, Studiocanal, NumNoms, Lionsgate, My Fairy Garden and Warner Bros., you didn't know it, but working with you made a massive difference to my life in 2019, thank you.
The BEST Beans on Toast Recipe
Ingredients (serves 1):
- ½ tin of beans
- 2 slices of bread
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 25g cheddar cheese
- splash Worcestershire sauce
- black pepper to taste (optional)
Method:
Grate the cheese to either a fine or a chunky consistency - whichever you prefer.
Pour the beans into a small saucepan, and cook over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes until heated through.
Alternatively, place the beans in a microwave safe bowl (I like to use a pyrex jug), cover and heat for 1 minute on full power. Remove from the microwave and stir, then pop back in and heat for a further 30 seconds (increase this to a full minute if serving two people and therefore cooking the whole tin of beans).
Once the beans are ready, pop the bread in the toaster until golden brown all over.
Spread the toast with butter.
Place the buttered toast on a plate. If serving to younger children, cut the toast into soldiers first, it makes it much easier for them to eat!
Spoon a generous portion of beans over the toast.
Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce - if you've never tried this, it's a must!
Sprinkle over the grated cheddar cheese.
Grind over a sprinkling of black pepper to taste (if using).
Serve immediately and enjoy!
My new year's resolution this year is to rediscover the joy of writing honestly and authentically here on the blog, alongside sharing my fun food creations. If you'd like to read more of my ramblings, and enjoy my new recipes and tutorials too, why not sign up for my email list, or pop over and follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Grace
The BEST Beans on Toast Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ 400 g tin of beans
- 2 slices of bread
- 1 Tbsp butter or spread
- splash Worcestershire sauce
- 25 g cheddar cheese grated
- black pepper to taste optional
Instructions
- Pour the beans into a small saucepan, and cook over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes until heated through.
- Alternatively, place the beans in a microwave safe bowl (I like to use a pyrex jug), cover and heat for 1 minute on full power. Remove from the microwave and stir, then pop back in and heat for a further 30 seconds (increase this to a full minute if serving two people and therefore cooking the whole tin of beans).
- Once the beans are ready, pop the bread in the toaster until golden brown all over.
- Place the toast on a plate and butter generously. If serving to younger children, cut the toast into soldiers first, it makes it much easier for them to eat!
- Spoon a generous portion of beans over the toast and sprinkle over the grated cheddar cheese.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce - if you've never tried this, it's a must!
- Grind over a sprinkling of black pepper to taste (if using).
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Love this recipe? Why not save it to Pinterest so you can easily find it again!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
The beans on toast sound perfect and a perfectly healthy meal that all the family can enjoy. It happens in this house too. We'll even have a ready meal once a week sometimes twice. I hope this is the start of a better year for you x
Lys says
I am so, so sorry you’ve had such a tough time, and huge kudos for being so frank. I hope that you’re on your way back up again (and ps beans on toast are the BEST ) (though you didn’t mention that whatever shape and colour your toast is it’s bound to be wrong when there is a toddler in the house ). Much love xx
Leiah says
Had this all the time as a kid. Also breakfast for dinner.
2019 was the year of my second child. My first did not prepare me for this. I’ve been in a daze since the delivery and have felt incomplete for almost a year. I just can’t get myself together.
I’ve gone from loving to cook to just feed them now, anything will do. I get where you’re coming from. Just though you should hear this. You’re not alone and you got this. Mommin’ ain’t easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.
xxhugsxx
Emma T says
Yum. Can't beat a bit ofworcester sauce in a lot of things (beans and scrambled eggs!). Hope youre back tk full form soon .
Georgia says
You are one of the most authentic, caring, fun, and deliciously wicked women I have the privilege of calling a friend. Your honesty has pushed the tear ducts and I am so proud of you.
I love beans on toast. When all else fails we have beans on toast. Xx
Karen says
What kind of canned beans are you referring to in this recipe?
Grace Hall says
Hi Karen, these are British style baked beans - they are usually haricot beans cooked in a sweet tomato sauce and the most popular brand is Heinz. If you can find British style baked beans where you are then I recommend giving them a try!
Jenny @thebrickcastle says
To be fair one of my most liked photos is a crisp butty I made one day when I really didn't have the energy for anything else. Keeping yourself going is the most important thing, without you it all collapses, so doing it the best you can on the day is what's important - even if it's not even as elaborate as beans on toast. Plus - as my kids will tell you - this is 'Fancy beans on toast' total winner 😀 Xx
Sally says
All the best Grace. It's tough when life knocks us about but I'm glad to see you're still here, being amazing.
Vikkie says
Beans and toast is the best with cheese on. And just wanted to say, I hope you feel back to your usual cheesy dancing self asap xxx
martutz says
So healthy and easy to make! I'm also struggling for a healthier me, I've even start running and I can say I'm on the right track now. Nutrition is an important part of my losing weight plan, and your blog posts are a true inspiration!
Kim says
Thank you for posting this... I only discovered you & your blog yesterday. And you have already inspired me heaps for my 2 & 6 year olds lunches... I hope you are back to your creative self soon!
This is a go to staple meal in our house too, although we have marmite on the toast instead of the Worcester sauce. Will try the WS next time. Xx
The Student-turned-Doctor says
Tough times come to all of us now and then. I hope you can feel better soon.
Beans on toast is really good; I never thought to do more than just take the name literally, so I may try to dial it up a few notches like you.
Karen says
Being from the US I need to know the kind of beans you use. Are these Canned pork and beans or just any kind of canned beans.
Grace Hall says
Hello, here in the UK we buy baked beans in tins, ready made. They are haricot beans in a simple tomato sauce and you just need to heat them up. From a quick google I understand the nearest US equivalent recipe would be Boston Beans. If you can find British style baked beans where you are I recommend giving them a try!
Grace Baker says
Hello from one Grace to another! I just discovered your blog today and this was my first post. I usually don't read the intros to recipes but for some reason today I did and I'm glad I did it. This past year I have lost my love for my kitchen. My spouse pointed it out yesterday when they cleared off the island and said something about how it went from being a dedicated prep station to a dumping ground for our bags and stuff we wanted to keep away from our suddenly reaching toddler (who is now tall enough to reach the edges of the counter).
I have since spent an hour on your website combing through your blog and making a shopping list for this coming week. I can't wait to surprise my little one with some of the creative foods you've shared on your blog.
Thank you so much for inspiring this overwhelmed mama.