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by Lisa Bryan
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Aug 29, 2024
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Smoky, spicy, and sweet, these baked beans with bacon are a hit every single time. Plus, they’re super easy to make and one of the best side dishes for summer BBQs, potlucks, or any holiday party!
Why These are the Best Baked Beans
During the summer, I always look forward to a feast of pulled pork, coleslaw, potato salad, and baked beans. There’s just something about that combination that’s nostalgic of my childhood. And this baked beans recipe is all thanks to my mom, as it’s a riff on her recipe that I’ve been enjoying for decades! My friends request it time and again, especially for outdoor barbecues and parties, and I think you’ll love it as well, here’s why:
- The flavor is top-notch. While the ingredient list is simple and unfussy, the recipe itself is incredibly robust in flavor (some might even say award-winning). But for me, these baked beans are the best combination of rich, smoky, spicy, and sweet.
- It’s a one-pot recipe. Unlike other recipes that will have you saute some ingredients in one pan, and then transfer to a baking dish, this recipe is all done in one pot. That means less dirty dishes!
- It doesn’t take two hours. Because this recipe uses canned baked beans instead of white beans, there’s no need to cook them for hours low and slow in the oven. That means this recipe is done in half the time of others and you can serve it up for guests faster.
Easy Baked Beans Ingredients
- Baked Beans: Grab a few cans of baked beans to make this recipe quick and easy. I’m using Amy’s brand baked beans, but I’ll go more into detail about the different options you can buy below.
- Veggies: Yellow onion and red bell pepper add depth and savoriness. You can use any color bell pepper, though I prefer red as it compliments the dark, rich color.
- Bacon: Everything tastes better with bacon right? A few slices of bacon make this recipe simply irresistible.
- Aromatics and Spices: Fresh garlic and smoked paprika add a punchy, smoky fragrance. And I highly recommend using fresh garlic versus powdered.
- Sauces: A mix of maple syrup, blackstrap molasses, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard is a dynamic combination for an ultra-flavorful baked bean dish.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
Which Baked Beans to Use?
If you didn’t already know, a can of baked beans is simply white beans with spices, sweeteners, and flavorings. Different brands of baked beans have different added ingredients, with some being more spicy, sweet, tomato-y, or smoky. After testing multiple cans, here are two I recommend:
- Bush’s Best Baked Beans: If you prioritize flavor over a clean ingredient list, it’s hard to beat Bush’s brand. They’re a perennial winner due to their smoky, robust, classic baked beans flavor, reminiscent of backyard barbecues from your childhood.
- Amy’s Organic Baked Beans: If you prioritize a cleaner ingredient list, Amy’s was my personal favorite. There’s a ton of beans in the can, and while they tend to have a more tomato-y base rather than a rich, smoky, or bacon-flavored base (because they’re vegetarian), that robust flavor gets added back in with the ingredients in my recipe below, so you don’t miss out on anything.
How To Make Baked Beans
Crisp the bacon.Add the bacon to a Dutch oven (or deep saute pan) over medium-high heat and cook until crispy.
Saute the veggies and add more flavor.Add the onion and bell pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic, and paprika, and stir for another minute. Then, add the maple syrup, molasses, vinegar, ketchup, and mustard. Stir for another minute.
Add the baked beans.Stir in the baked beans (with all liquid from the can), bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Taste the baked beans and add salt and pepper, if needed.Tip: Different cans of beans have different amounts of salt and pepper already added, so season to your liking.
Bake.Cover the Dutch oven and bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C), to allow the flavors to meld. Remove the lid and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the sauce has reduced and thickened to your liking. And remember that it will continue to thicken as it cools. Then, let it cool slightly before serving.
Common Questions
Can I make this in a crockpot?
Yes! I would cook the bacon and veggies in a saute pan first. Then add those ingredients to the crockpot with the rest of the aromatics and sauces. Stir everything and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You sure can. Since this recipe stores well, you can easily make this a few hours in advance and warm it on the stovetop right before serving.
How do I store leftovers?
This can be stored in the fridge for 4 to 5 days or up to 3 months in the freezer. When ready to enjoy, thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat it in the microwave or back on the stovetop if you have a large quantity.
Ways To Serve Baked Beans
- Serve alongside the best BBQ mains such as grilled BBQ chicken, turkey burgers, pulled pork, beef brisket, and more!
- Serve as a chunky dip with melted cheddar cheese and sliced green onions on top. You could even mash it a bit more if you want it less chunky.
- Enjoy leftovers for breakfast. Add a spoonful on top of toast or enjoy with a fried egg, sausage, and toast for a classic English breakfast plate.
More BBQ Side Dishes
- Easy Cucumber Salad: The best combo of crisp cucumbers, onions, dill, and a tangy-sweet dressing.
- Corn on the Cob: A grilling essential for summer!
- Watermelon Feta Salad: The best way to make the most of watermelon season.
- Caesar Salad: Nothing beats homemade Caesar dressing.
- Or find more ideas in this list of July 4th recipes!
If you make this baked beans recipe, I’d love to know how it turned out in the comment box below!Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more food inspiration (and exclusive content), join myfree newsletter.
Best Ever Baked Beans
5 from 3 votes
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 48 minutes mins
Total: 58 minutes mins
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan
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Description
Smoky, spicy, and sweet, these baked beans with bacon are a hit every single time! They're the best side dish for BBQs, parties, and holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Watch the video below to see how I make this in my kitchen!
Video
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- ½ medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup blackstrap molasses
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 (15-ounce) cans baked beans
Instructions
Crisp the bacon. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Add the bacon to a Dutch oven (or deep saute pan) over medium-high heat and cook until crispy.
Saute the veggies. Add the onion and bell pepper, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic, paprika, and stir for another minute.
Add more flavor. Add the maple syrup, molasses, vinegar, ketchup, and mustard. Stir for another minute.
Add the baked beans. Stir in the baked beans (with all liquid from the can), bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Taste the baked beans and add salt and pepper, if needed. Tip: Different cans of beans have different amounts of salt and pepper already added, so season to your liking.
Bake. Cover the Dutch oven and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, to allow the flavors to meld. Remove the lid and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the sauce has reduced and thickened to your liking. And remember that it will continue to thicken as it cools. Let cool slightly before serving.
Lisa’s Tips
- While you can use honey in this recipe as an alternative sweetener (if you don’t have maple syrup), I do believe it’s best with maple syrup.
- This recipe veers more to the sweet and smoky side versus spicy. If you’d like to add more heat, sprinkle in some chili powder or chipotle powder in step 2. You could also dice in a jalapeno pepper and add it with the onion.
- Here’s a link for Amy’s organic baked beans (which is what I’m using for this recipe), and Bush’s baked beans.
Nutrition
Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 226mg | Potassium: 389mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 1254IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Baked Beans, Baked Beans Recipe
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Behind The Scenes
You guys, this recipe is so incredibly addictive! I had to give most of it to Emily (and her husband), because I started polishing off about half this pot right after testing it, lol. That sweet, bacony flavor is irresistible. Can’t wait to hear what you think of this one!
