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

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posted by Christy Denneyon Apr 6, 2023216 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. 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. 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

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

The Best Baked Beans

4.46 from 92 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.

PrintPinRate

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 Apr 6, 2023

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 ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and dry mustard in a large saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Pour sauce over the beans. Pour in just enough reserved cooking liquid to cover the beans.

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.

What is the baked bean challenge? ›

Hold your baked bean cans or other, in each hand. Extend your arms to the sides to form a straight line between your hands, elbows and shoulders. Return arms to your sides and then raise them hands as high as you can above your head. Repeat five times gradually increasing the pace you do these movements.

How to make baked beans more interesting? ›

Raid your cupboard and experiment with flavoured pastes: sundried tomato, chipotle chilli, even curry pastes can bring beans to life, give it a go and find your own favourite combination.

What to add to canned baked beans to make them taste better? ›

Here's how to improve canned baked beans:
  1. Upgrade #1: Bacon! Fry some up and set it aside.
  2. Upgrade #2: Sausage! Cook up beef sausages with onion to create a super-flavorful base for your dressed up baked beans.
  3. Upgrade #3: All of the condiments! ...
  4. Upgrade #4: Heat.
May 17, 2024

Why put ketchup in baked beans? ›

My recipe for baked beans includes ketchup and brown sugar, both of which bring in a ton of sweetness, so to cut through that, I like to add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. It adds depth thanks to the umami notes of anchovy and tamarind.

What makes Bush's baked beans so good? ›

Back in 1969, the Bush family decided to share their secret recipe for Baked Beans. Tender navy beans are slow-cooked with specially cured bacon, fine brown sugar and the family signature blend of spices. It's easy to see why it's enjoyed by millions every year!

Which is the best tasting baked beans? ›

Results
  • 1 Branston Baked Beans. Flavourful. ...
  • 2 Aldi Everyday Essentials. Nice aroma. ...
  • 3 Aldi Simply Baked Beans. Very similar to Aldi Everyday Essentials in all respects. ...
  • 4 Marks and Spencer Baked Beans. Good flavour and aroma. ...
  • 5 Marks and Spencer Organic. I liked these. ...
  • 6 Morrison's Savers. ...
  • 7 Heinz Beanz. ...
  • 8 Tesco Baked Beans.
May 1, 2024

Which brand of baked beans is the healthiest? ›

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

Which country eats the most baked beans? ›

It's Really No Surprise That Britain Is The Country That Eats The Most Baked Beans.

Did cowboys eat baked beans? ›

On the trail, cowboys ate mostly dried meats — think beef jerky — and lots of beans. Full of protein and easy to transport without refrigeration, it's easy to see why camp cooks made dried beans a staple. Most modern cowboys and cowgirls are used to canned beans, but our posse… er, family…

What happened to Grandma's baked beans? ›

Major stores sold them, and her name and product became the stuff of legends. But what happened! Grandma Brown's Baked Beans have disappeared from the store shelves, her factory in Mexico, NY is closed, and there are no plans to bring the food item back. And the public is not a bit happy about that!

How can I make my beans more flavorful? ›

Add Aromatics (and Some Salt)

We're talking onions, shallots, garlic, and chiles. Or maybe some fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, bay leaves, and thyme. This is where the flavor really starts to build. Salt the liquid again (lightly) after about an hour of simmering.

What is the secret to soft baked beans? ›

Baking Soda – This will actually help soften the beans as they cook so they are just the right (not crunchy, but not mushy) texture. Bacon – Adding a couple slices of bacon brings a nice smokey flavor and a little texture to this recipe. Onion – I use yellow onion though white onion would work great too.

What spices go well with baked beans? ›

Spice Up Your Beans on Toast

You can also spice up you're your baked beans by adding a teaspoon of your favourite spice, for example smoked paprika, cumin or chilli powder if your feeling adventurous.

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 is the liquid in canned baked beans? ›

You won't know until you try. 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. This isn't to say you can't use it.

Is the sauce in beans and spaghetti the same? ›

The sauce is fairly similar, in that it is a tomato-flavoured sauce, but certainly not identical. What do British canned beans taste like? Sweet and tomatoey, a bit earthy, canned baked beans are a habitual eat rather than for its taste.

Are Bush's baked beans in tomato sauce? ›

Our Homestyle Baked Beans are deliciously tomato-based—which makes them a bit tangier than the original—with brown sugar, bold spices and a specially cured bacon.

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