Baked beans is a classic side dish for everything from ribs to fried chicken.
No picnic or potluck is complete without a delicious pot of savory-sweet baked beans!
This version is easy to make, requires only a few simple ingredients, and everyone loves them.
Why We Love Baked Beans
This is the last baked bean recipe you’ll ever need! I always hope for leftovers to have beans on toast for lunch (does anyone else love beans on toast?).
- These are sweet, saucy, and delicious.
- Since they taste even better the next day, they’re perfect to make ahead!
- Using canned beans is a timesaver while adding a few extras makes them taste homemade.
- These beans freeze well so make extras to enjoy throughout the summer.
- This side dish is budget-friendly.
Ingredients in Baked Beans
Bacon: Crispy bacon adds both salt and a nice smoky flavor to the dish. In a pinch, you can use real bacon bits.
Canned Beans: Starting with canned beans saves time and adds flavor as they are already softened. Do not drain the sauce from the beans; it will be enhanced in the recipe.
Red Onion: Red onion adds a savory and slightly sweet flavor to the baked beans.
Brown Sugar & Molasses: These sweetened the beans and add a caramel flavor.
Ketchup & Cider Vinegar: Adds tang flavor to balance the sweetness of the brown sugar and molasses.
Flavorful Additions: Green bell pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard add flavor.
How to Make Baked Beans
This is an easy recipe that requires just a little time for the beans to cook in the oven.
- Cook bacon: Cook bacon in a pan and set aside.
- Soften onion: Soften the onion and pepper over medium heat in the bacon grease.
- Combine ingredients: Combine all of the ingredients together.
- Cook: Bake the mixture, simmer in a large pot, or cook in a slow cooker as directed in the recipe below.
Storing Leftover Beans
Keep leftover baked beans covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove or microwave (or enjoy them cold).
Place cooled baked beans in zippered bags and keep them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Perfect Pairings for Baked Beans
Serve up baked beans next to these summer-time favorites!
Did you make these Baked Beans? Leave a rating and a comment below!
The Best Baked Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon cooked crispy and diced
- 1 red onion finely diced
- ½ cup green bell pepper finely diced
- ⅓ cup brown sugar*
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- 56 ounces baked beans or pork and beans, two 28 oz cans
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons green onions sliced
- 2 tablespoons bacon chopped (reserved from cooked bacon)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F, set the rack to the lower-middle position.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook 1 lb of bacon until crispy. Drain on a paper towel and chop, reserving 2 tbsp for garnish.
- In the same skillet, sauté the red onion and green bell pepper until softened.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard to make the sauce.
- Stir in the beans, and sautéed onions and green peppers.
- Pour the mixture into a 3qt baking dish and bake uncovered for 2 hours. Stir in the chopped bacon. Continue baking for 1 hour more or until the sauce has cooked down to the desired consistency.
- Let the beans stand for 5 minutes to thicken the sauce. Garnish with reserved bacon and green onions. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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Excellent easy recipe to make and so good.
have these in the oven now, but to cover or not to cover? I’m used to old fashioned baked beans, cooked very low, and covered. Any other time I’ve made “cheater” beans, it’s been in a crock pot, so obviously covered. This pan I have uncovered, but I’m watching carefully, just in case. I could see not covering them to reduce the sauce from the canned beans.
We bake them uncovered Emma. Enjoy!
Very delicious recipe. You may want to try using half the brown sugar. This is my go to recipe for baked beans.
That sounds delicious Charlene! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
These are delicious! I made them in my crock pot and added a can of black beans and will use less brown sugar next time. Will definitely make these over and over again.
If you are looking for a sugar “rush” this is the recipe for you. Or you can just eat sugar right out of the bag! It is worth reading the comments first, to any recipe, in order to see the “tweeks”. I used 1/2 the sugar called for, and it was still ALL to sweet! Such a disappointment. Keep looking for that baked bean recipe that won’t put you in diabetic shock!
Making these for a second time …they are awesome!
My question: why do you wait to add the bacon to the beans? Why not just add them to begin with?
Thanks!
If the bacon is added in the beginning, I think it would end up being too crispy, Debra!
Loved it but a little too sweet. I will make it again but with only half the brown sugar.
Is cooking the baked beans for 3 hours correct.
Thanks
Hi Sherry, we do bake these beans for 3 hours. In step 10 and 11 you will see we bake for 2 hours, add in the bacon, then bake for another hour or so until it reaches out desired consistency.
WHY ?? cannot PRINT copy recipes.
You will find the print button on the recipe card Judith. You can also hit Ctrl F (or command F on Mac) and type “Print Recipe” and it will take you to the print button.
Baked beans do you use can been for that recipes
Yes we did Lorraine! Canned beans makes this recipe so fast to prep!