Baked beans are traditionally made using white common beans, which are parboiled and then baked in sauce at low temperature for a lengthy period. The most commonly used beans for making baked beans are navy beans, also known as haricot beans, which are white beans slightly smaller than cannellini beans. However, any small to medium beans can be used to make baked beans, and they dont necessarily need to be white. The dish is thought to have originated in Native American cuisine and was later adopted and adapted by English colonists in New England in the 17th century. Today, baked beans are served throughout the United States alongside barbecue foods and at picnics, and they can be made in a slow cooker or in a modern oven using a traditional beanpot, Dutch oven, or casserole dish.