This easy baked beans recipe is rich, flavorful, and wonderfully simple to prepare. The beans bake until they are sweet, sticky, savory, and lightly smoky from crispy bacon. With pantry-friendly ingredients like canned baked beans, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, mustard, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce, this is the kind of side dish that tastes like it took much more effort than it actually did.
Serve these baked beans with sweet potato cornbread and Southern fried shrimp for a cozy, satisfying meal. They also pair beautifully with grilled meats, fried seafood, and other classic comfort food favorites.
If you enjoy quick and reliable side dishes, this baked beans recipe is a great one to keep on hand. It starts with canned beans, which makes the process easy, but the added bacon, onion, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, and seasonings give the dish a deeper homemade flavor. The long bake time helps the sauce thicken and caramelize, creating that irresistible sticky top layer that makes baked beans so delicious.
This recipe is especially helpful when you want something hearty without spending a lot of time prepping. The bacon is cooked first, the onion softens in the drippings, and then everything is stirred together in one skillet before going into the oven. For more bean recipe ideas, you may also enjoy these instant pot refried beans and chipotle baked beans.
Ingredient Notes
- Beans – Canned baked beans are recommended for this recipe because they are convenient, flavorful, and much easier than starting with dried beans. They also help keep the prep time short.
- Bacon – Pork bacon adds a smoky, savory flavor and a crisp topping. Turkey bacon or another bacon of your choice can also be used. For a vegetarian version, simply omit the bacon.
- Brown Sugar – Light brown sugar adds sweetness and helps the sauce become glossy and sticky as it bakes. Use soft, fresh brown sugar for the best texture.
- Barbecue Sauce – BBQ sauce gives the beans a tangy, smoky flavor and helps build a rich sauce.
- Mustard, Vinegar, and Worcestershire Sauce – These ingredients balance the sweetness and add a savory, slightly tangy finish.
Recipe Tips
- If you prefer baked beans that are less sticky, start checking them after 1 hour in the oven. For a thicker, caramelized top, continue baking until the sauce reduces and the surface becomes glossy.
- To make the beans heartier, stir in ½ to 1 cup of pulled pork, chopped brisket, chopped smoked sausage, or another smoked meat before baking.
- For a spicy kick, add cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, crushed red pepper flakes, or your favorite hot sauce.
- If you do not have an oven-safe skillet, prepare the recipe through the step where everything is combined, then transfer the mixture to a baking dish and continue baking as directed.
- Let the beans rest for a few minutes after baking so the sauce can settle slightly before serving.
Storage
Store leftover baked beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat them gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through. These beans can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator before reheating for the best texture.
Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, small diced
- 1 small Vidalia onion
- 4 16 oz cans baked beans
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bunch fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F.
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Add the diced bacon to a 12-inch cast iron skillet or a large oven-safe skillet set over medium heat.
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Cook the bacon for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside, leaving the drippings in the pan.
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Add the onion to the skillet and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
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Stir in the baked beans, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the cooked bacon.
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Mix until well combined. Transfer the uncovered skillet to the oven and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the top is caramelized and sticky.
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Top with the remaining bacon and parsley, if using. Serve warm.
Notes
- For less sticky baked beans, begin checking the dish at the 1-hour mark.
- For a heartier version, add ½ to 1 cup of pulled pork, chopped brisket, chopped smoked sausage, or another smoked meat.
- For heat, add cayenne, chipotle powder, crushed red pepper flakes, or hot sauce.
- If using a baking dish instead of an oven-safe skillet, combine the ingredients first, then transfer everything to the dish before baking.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used only as an approximation.