The Best Baked Beans Recipe (+VIDEO) - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2024)

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posted by Christy Denneyon Mar 21, 2024216 comments »

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This easyBaked Beans recipe is hearty and thick with tender beans. Bring these to your next potluck or BBQ and everyone will agree that this is a great recipe! They are the perfect side dish to ham, burgers, hot dogs, and fit for an occasion like Easter, Fourth of July, or Christmas.

The Best Baked Beans Recipe (+VIDEO) - The Girl Who Ate Everything (1)

BAKED BEAN RECIPE

Homemade baked beans are always a menu item essential to any BBQ or potluck. I have one recipe on this blog for easy baked beans and it’s my friend Heidi’s Famous Baked Beans.

They’re fabulous which is why I didn’t feel the need to ever look for another recipe. Everyone that makes them, loves them.

The only difference that is notable in this recipe from Heidi’s recipe is this recipe has beef in it. This recipe has a whopping pound and a half of savory beef which means it goes a long way and feeds a lot of people.

HOMEMADE BAKED BEANS

My sister who loves easy recipes, has a trick where she just buys canned baked beans and puts them in a slow cooker like she made them herself! Guess what? I can tell for sure and I’m sure most people can tell that they aren’t homemade. Gigs up sis.

WHY I LIKE THESE

This are the best baked beans recipe and are my favorite beans for feeding a crowd. They start with canned beans and have a spicy brown mustard instead of a yellow mustard or dry mustard.

The bacon cooks on top and a little bacon fat cooks into the beans giving them great flavor. These have a thick sauce made with ketchup and bbq sauce.

The Best Baked Beans Recipe (+VIDEO) - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2)

The sauce ingredients includes a savory flavor mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, soy sauce, and spicy brown mustard.

The simple ingredients blend beautifully in the oven, simmering away for 45 minutes. Add this to your Fourth of July menu!

HOW TO MAKE BAKED BEANS

  1. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.

  2. Next, in a large skillet brown the ground beef. When beef is about halfway done add the onions and bell peppers. Sauté. Continue to cook until beef is done and the veggies are soft. Drain meat mixture.

  3. Add the pork and beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar to the mixture. Stir. Simmer mixture for 5 minutes. Transfer the bean mixture to the prepared casserole dish.

  4. Finally, sprinkle the bacon pieces over the top of the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let dish sit for 10 minutes before serving.

HOW DO YOU MAKE BAKED BEANS IN A SLOW COOKER?

Make the recipe as directed then add them to a slow cooker at the end. Keep on low heat for 4-6 hours or until desired consistency.

WHAT SIDE SHOULD I BRING TO A POTLUCK?

Finally, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this question. These hearty Baked beans are probably the most requested side at any potluck or family reunion.

However, if you are looking a couple other savory side dish options, I would suggest these classic recipes like Broccoli Salad, Cowboy Caviar, Frito Corn Dip, or this Crunchy Pea Salad.

HOW DO I TRANSPORT THIS DISH?

I would suggest transferring them to a slow cooker or crock pot to keep them warm if you’re not eating them right away.

OTHER POTLUCK RECIPES

  • Hawaiian Baked Bean Recipe
  • Green Bean Casserole Recipe
  • The Best Bean Dip
  • Red Potato Salad
  • Heavenly Green Beans
  • Pizza Pasta Salad
  • BLT Pasta Salad
  • Macaroni Salad
  • Deviled Eggs

The Best Baked Beans Recipe (+VIDEO) - The Girl Who Ate Everything (3)

The Best Baked Beans

4.47 from 93 votes

This recipe for The Best Baked Beansis hearty and thick. Bring these to your next potluck or BBQ and everyone will agree that these are the best homemade baked beans.

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 40 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 red or green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
  • 2 (16-oz cans) pork and beans
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 6 to 8 slices bacon, cut into pieces and cooked

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.

  • In a large saucepan brown the ground beef. When beef is about halfway done add the onions and bell peppers. Continue to cook until beef is done and the veggies are soft. Drain meat mixture.

  • Add the pork and beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar to the mixture. Simmer mixture for 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.

  • Sprinkle the bacon pieces over the top of the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let dish sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Cuisine: American

Course: Side Dish

Author: Christy Denney

All Recipes Beans Beef Easter Recipes Fourth of July Recipes Holiday Recipes Potluck Favorites Sides Soups, Salads, Sides, and Beverages

published on Mar 21, 2024

216 comments Leave a comment »

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216 comments on “Baked Beans Recipe”

  1. Esther Reply

    This is the BEST baked beans I have ever made. Loved them so much that I wanted to eat the whole batch. Also loved the fact that no salt was needed ,but I’m sure that there was plenty of sodium in the condiments added. This is going to be a must fix recipe for any covered dish for me from now on.

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Thank you!

  2. Stephanie Claymore Reply

    The same recipe as Trisha Yearwood’s!!!!!!!

  3. Rebecca Woods Reply

    The best baked beans I’ve ever made

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Thank you!

  4. Sonja Cauley Reply

    Love making these. I just recently tried adding a third can of beans and it’s balanced out the meat and bean ratio and added extra liquid to it. Had many compliments on it.

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Thank you!

  5. Danny Reply

    Always the hit of the bbq whenever we have a family gathering.

    I’ve also made substitutions with ingredients but follow the base recipe for the most part and they always turn out amazing.

    Thank you for sharing 🙏🏽

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Thank you!

    • Jann Forrest Reply

      I reduced the amount of ground beef to 1/2 lb. Added Liquid Smoke of 2 TBS otherwise it is as written. I love anything with Liquid Smoke.

      These were just my preference.

  6. Kristy Reply

    I’ve made these many times and they’re always so delicious and everyone loves them. Yesterday I was going to make beanie weenies so I made this and added keilbasa. It was so delicious.

    • Christy Denney Reply

      So happy to hear that!

  7. MrsKey Reply

    I made this the first time me and my now husband met and he loved it then. It’s now a staple in our household! We absolutely love it, he’s from the States and I live in the UK and had never heard of baked beans done this way. I’m obsessed!! We are cooking it again tonight!!

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Wow! What a story!!! I love that.

  8. Joy Brown Reply

    I’ve made these beans many times! They are always a hit! I’m making them today for our annual 4th of July cookout I can promise there won’t be a bean left!

    • Christy Denney Reply

      That’s awesome!

  9. LMay Reply

    I love these beans. Before cooking the meat I cook a couple pieces of bacon first and remove the bacon for later then cook the meat in the bacon grease. I then drain the meat per directions. I also use chili sauce instead of ketchup. Depending if my kids are around I leave the bacon to top half for the adults. Either way they are delicious.

  10. Gina Reply

    I absolutely love LOVE LOVE this recipe! I make it for potlucks and it’s always a big hit. Thank you so much for sharing 💕

    • Christy Denney Reply

      You’re welcome!

  11. Nick Reply

    This awesome, making it again today, my go to, and everybody loves them, thx

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Awesome!

  12. Shonda Reply

    This baked bean dish is delicious!!!! This will be the only one that I’ll make from here on out.

    • Christy Denney Reply

      AWw thanks!

  13. Kelly Stone Reply

    Brillant sister! Great inspiration.

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Thank you!

  14. Beth Reply

    Wow, so delicious! I just made this amazing recipe today, to serve with our family Easter Sunday dinner, and we all just absolutely loved these baked beans! My husband already asked me to cook them again, right away. Thank you so very much for sharing with all of us. Happy Easter and God Bless. ✝️❤️😎

    • Christy Denney Reply

      You’re welcome!!

  15. Dawnedue Reply

    Does anyone have experience quadrupling this recipe and cooking it in a roaster or cooking the day before and reheating in a roaster or crockpot? Can you make and freeze for about a month, thaw and reheat? Looking to make this for a graduation open house.

  16. Janel Reply

    This recipe is always such a hit. Perfect as is, thank you! My go to for potlucks or family events.

    • Christy Denney Reply

      Thank you! I’m so glad you liked it!

Leave a comment »

The Best Baked Beans Recipe (+VIDEO) - The Girl Who Ate Everything (2024)

FAQs

What is the sauce made of in baked beans? ›

Combine canned beans with pork, brown sugar, onion, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a 9-inch square baking dish. Place bacon slices over top. Bake in the preheated oven until sauce is thickened and bacon is cooked, about 1 hour.

How to make baked beans more interesting? ›

Stir through your favourite chilli sauce, crushed chilli flakes or sliced red chilli for a spicy kick, add a few spoonfuls of barbecue sauce for a sweet, smoky finish, or try a little bit of Worcestershire sauce and horseradish for some bloody Mary flavour.

What meat goes well with baked beans? ›

MAIN DISHES
  • Hot Dogs - This is simple, but baked beans are so delicious on a hot dog! ...
  • Hamburgers - Hamburgers and baked beans are a classic combination. ...
  • BBQ Baked Beans with Ground Beef - This recipe is a great way to level up your baked beans.
Apr 14, 2023

What's the difference between baked beans and canned beans? ›

Baked beans are a dish traditionally containing white common beans that are parboiled and then, in the US, baked in sauce at low temperature for a lengthy period. Canned baked beans are not baked, but are cooked through a steam process.

Why put ketchup in baked beans? ›

Many recipes use ketchup or tomato paste to help thicken the broth into that signature shiny, syrupy sauce, but I've never been a fan of that method.

What can I add to baked beans for flavor? ›

Here's what we dress them up with:
  1. Bacon.
  2. Onion.
  3. Maple syrup.
  4. Spicy mustard.
  5. Beef sausage.
  6. Molasses.
  7. Ketchup.
  8. Cider vinegar.
Jun 20, 2023

What can you put in beans to make them taste better? ›

Dried beans cooked with sea salt and water are delicious, but adding an onion, garlic, or other aromatics to the pot will make them even more flavorful!

What is the secret to soft baked beans? ›

They were creamy and soft using this technique. The secret to cooking beans is to not add the sauce ingredients, especially the molasses, until the beans are totally cooked. Once the molasses is added the beans seem to no longer cook.

What makes Bush's baked beans so good? ›

These are THE beans. The "Roll That Beautiful Bean Footage" beans. The beans that are met with smiles at any gathering. Bush's® Original Baked Beans are a Secret Family Recipe of navy beans slow-cooked with specially cured bacon, fine brown sugar and our signature blend of spices.

What is a good side dish for baked beans? ›

Here are some side dishes that pair well with baked beans and sausages:
  • Grilled or roasted vegetables (e.g. corn, zucchini, bell peppers)
  • Coleslaw or potato salad.
  • Cornbread or garlic bread.
  • Grilled or roasted potatoes.
  • Baked macaroni and cheese.
  • Green salad with a tangy dressing.
  • Grilled or steamed corn on the cob.
Jan 29, 2023

Can you eat baked beans straight from the can? ›

The reason that beans are safe to eat straight from the can is pretty simple: They're already cooked. According to Epicurious, beans are blanched before being canned with water, salt, and other additives — all of which help keep the shelf-stable beans fresh for long periods of time.

Who eats the most baked beans? ›

Despite their American origin, baked beans are not as popular there. In fact, nowhere likes them as much as the UK – British people eat more baked beans than the rest of the world put together. Baked beans get their name because the raw haricot beans are baked in tomato sauce while inside the can.

Who makes the best baked beans? ›

Which? best baked beans
  • Asda baked beans - 77%
  • Aldi Corale baked beans - 75%
  • Branston - Branston baked beans - 74%
  • Co-Op baked beans - 73%
  • M&S baked beans - 73%
  • Sainsbury's baked beans - 73%
  • Lidl Newgate baked beans - 72%
  • Heinz baked beans - 71%
Mar 8, 2023

What is the healthiest brand of baked beans? ›

Here are a few brands of canned baked beans that are considered to be among the healthiest:
  • Eden Organic Baked Beans - Sweet Sorghum.
  • B&M Vegetarian Baked Beans.
  • Trader Joe's Baked Beans.
  • Amy's Organic Vegetarian Beans.
  • Bush's Best Vegetarian Baked Beans.
Oct 30, 2023

Can diabetics eat baked beans? ›

Eat plenty of beans

They don't have a big impact on blood glucose and may help to control blood fats such as cholesterol. Try kidney beans, chickpeas, green lentils, and even baked beans: hot in soups and casseroles, cold in salads, in baked falafel, bean burgers and low fat hummus and dahls.

What is the liquid in canned baked beans? ›

One note: The liquid in all canned beans is a mixture of water, salt, and the starch released from the beans themselves. The salt acts as a preservative to keep the beans tasting fresh, which means the liquid is generally very, very salty.

What is bean sauce made of? ›

Ground bean sauce is made with fermented yellow soybeans. Not to be confused with regular bean paste AKA sweet soybean paste (豆瓣酱), which is made with little more than soybeans, wheat, and salt, it usually has additional seasonings, including sesame oil, sugar, and spices.

What are the ingredients in original baked beans? ›

Ingredients. Cooked Pea Beans (Water, Pea Beans), Sugar, Molasses, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Pork Fat, Seasoning Blend (Dried Onion, Dextrose, Dried Garlic, Spices, Natural Flavors), Mustard.

What is the dip made from beans? ›

This creamy bean dip with cheese and refried beans is served warm and it's so good — it's easy to make and always a hit! I make it for my big game watch party each year and it's always gone before halftime. Serve with tortilla chips.

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