Baked Beans

Homemade Baked Beans are a classic easy side dish that brings hearty comfort and rich flavor to any meal. This perfect side dish combines tender beans with a sweet and savory sauce, slow-cooked to perfection in the oven to achieve a deliciously thick and caramelized finish. Make these beans for family dinners, Fourth of July barbecues, and potlucks this summer!

When the weather warms up, I get so excited because it means I can break out some of my favorite recipes! There are tons of gatherings for things like graduation, weddings, summer BBQs, and more! I like to make these Deviled Eggs as a delicious appetizer, and this Easy Macaroni Salad is always good for a potluck.

For something sweet, I like to make this Strawberry Pretzel Pie or a batch of any of my Dream Bars! These oven baked beans are one of my favorites to bring along when I need to feed a crowd.

Why You Need this Baked Bean Recipe

• Hearty and Satisfying: Baked beans are both filling and comforting, complementing many different dishes!
• Nutritious: Beans are a great source of protein, fiber, and vitamins.
• Easy to Make: This classic dish uses simple ingredients and comes together quickly and easily!
• Make it Ahead of Time: You can easily make this dish ahead of time, making it perfect for busy events!
• Crowd-Pleasing: The smoky sweet sauce appeals to many, making them a popular choice at picnics and barbecues!
• Customizable: You can easily adapt the sauce ingredients to fit any personal preference.

Ingredients for Easy Baked Beans

Here’s what you need to make delicious baked beans:

• Bacon
• Medium onion, minced
• Great Northern beans: You’ll need to drain one can and keep the liquid for the other.
• BBQ Sauce
• Light Brown sugar
• Ketchup
• Molasses
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dry mustard powder
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper
• Kosher salt

Make sure to review the recipe card below for the proper amount of each ingredient.

How to make Homemade Baked Beans

While these beans do take a bit of time in the oven to create that rich, thick sauce, the hands-on time is minimal. Here’s how to make it:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare an 8 X 8-inch baking dish by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray. 
2. Combine the drained beans, the can of beans with the liquid, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt in a large bowl. Stir to mix well.
3. In a large skillet, cook the bacon slices over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel and after a few minutes, crumble the bacon and add it to the bowl.
4. Add the onion to the skillet. Cook onion in bacon grease until soft, about 2-3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, place the cooked onion into the bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
5. Mix everything together in the bowl. Transfer to the prepared baking dish, and cover.
6. Bake for 2 hours. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Stir well and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Recipe Additions and Substitutions

Here are some ideas for customizing this recipe:

• Add more beans! Try more than one variety of your favorite beans for a fun twist.
• Add a little kick with some chili powder, hot sauce, or red pepper flakes.
• Mix in some kielbasa or chopped hot dogs as a nod to the classic “franks ‘n’ beans”
• Sub steak sauce for the Worcestershire sauce
• You can use yellow mustard in place of the dry mustard
• Stir in some crushed pineapple for added sweetness
• Use maple syrup in place of the molasses

FAQs

How should I serve Baked Beans?

• Eat them just as they are as a side dish to any main.
• Spread them over tortilla chips and add your favorite nacho toppings.
• Serve them on top of hot dogs or baked potatoes.
• Add a side of homemade cornbread!

Can I use different beans in this recipe?

Yes, you can. Great Northern Beans are simple white beans. You could also use navy beans, cannellini beans (white kidney beans), or even butter beans.

How do I store Baked Beans?

Store leftover beans in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Make sure to include some of the liquid sauce to keep them from drying out.

Can I freeze Baked Beans?

Yes, you can freeze this side dish! Make sure the beans cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible and store for up to 3 months for the best flavor.

To thaw, place the beans in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in a large pot on the stovetop until warmed through.

Can I make these in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low until thickened, about 3-4 hours on low or on high for 2 hours. This is a great option when you don’t want to heat up your kitchen.

Can you make Baked Beans in an Instant Pot?

Yes, you can use a pressure cooker! Put all the ingredients in the pot, close the lid, and cook for about 8 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10-15 minutes, then quick release before the rest.

More Great Side Dishes

If you’re looking for the perfect side dish for summer, try one of these next time:

• Zucchini Casserole: With a combination of tender zucchini, aromatic onion, and a cheesy Bisquick topping, this casserole is the perfect side dish anytime, but especially for these hot summer months.
• Skillet Mexican Street Corn: Fresh corn, chili powder, cilantro, lime juice, Cotija cheese, and more make this the perfect side dish the entire family will love!
• Baked Stuffed Tomatoes: Ordinary tomatoes are transformed into an extraordinary dinner dish! They are filled with bread crumbs, Parmesan, and fresh herbs, then covered with mozzarella and baked. 
• Ranch BLT Pasta Salad: made with Marie’s Creamy Ranch Dressing, rotini pasta, crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, red onion, orange pepper, and romaine lettuce. This ranch salad might just make a regular appearance on your menu.
• Loaded Red Potato Salad: Red Bliss potatoes, a creamy Dijon dressing, bacon, green onions, and cheese make this a potato salad you’ll want to bring to all the potlucks and picnics!
• Three Bean Salad: You’ll love how easy this 3-bean salad is to make. With a tangy vinaigrette, red kidney beans, yellow wax beans, and green beans, this salad is best served cold.

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