Baked beans typically contain white common beans, such as great northern beans, navy beans, or haricot beans. These beans are known for their ability to hold their shape well and become tender and creamy after a long cooking time, making them ideal for baked bean recipes. The traditional baked bean recipe often calls for white beans due to their rich, creamy, and nutty flavor, which balances perfectly with the sweet tomato or molasses-based sauce commonly used in baked bean recipes. While the specific type of bean used may vary, the savory-sweet flavor and brownish- or reddish-tinted appearance of the beans are consistent across different recipes and cooking methods.