This is the best baked beans with bacon recipe you will ever make. It is the all time favorite and most requested bbq side dish recipe I make to serve with ribs, chicken or beef.
These baked beans are easy to make because they start out with canned pork and beans.
This best rib side dish recipe is so easy to make, has only 7 ingredients and two of them are condiments AND you only need to dirty the a spoon and the baking pan you will be baking the baked beans in.
Once you mix the canned beans with the perfect combination of ketchup, mustard and brown sugar you end up a big pan of the best old fashioned southern baked beans you will ever taste.
I have been making these bbq baked beans for over 30 years ever since a family friend shared her baked bean recipe with me.
It is the best bbq side dish recipe there is.
This recipe was originally published on Jun 27, 2017 but has been updated June 21, 2021 with new photos and info.
I make it the mostly over the summer months when we have a big backyard family bbq's and will be making it for the 4th of July.
Ingredients to make the recipe
Scroll below to the printable recipe card where you will find the ingredient amounts.
- canned pork and beans
- dark brown sugar
- hot dogs, sliced into circles
- finely diced onion
- ketchup
- yellow mustard
- quality bacon
Step by step instructions
Follow my easy step by step instructions to make this southern summer side dish recipe.
Step 1: Pour the canned beans into a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
Step 2: Add the brown sugar to the pan with the beans. Mix well breaking up the clumps of brown sugar. Mix until the brown sugar dissolves.
Step 3: Add the diced onions, hot dog pieces, ketchup and mustard to the pan. Mix well to evenly combine the ingredients.
Step 4: Arrange the bacon slices over the beans.
Use the entire pack of bacon and cover the entire top of the beans.
Arrange bacon slices across the top of the beans.
Step 5: Bake the beans in a preheated 350 F. degree oven for 2½ to 3 hours or until the bacon is browned and crispy.
The best-baked beans recipe is cooked in the oven low and slow. Depending on your oven, of course, check frequently.
This recipe makes enough baked beans to serve a crowd.
Recipe FAQS
This southern style baked beans recipe should be done in about 3 hours. You can lower the oven temp and cook them even longer if needed.
I prefer VanCamps canned pork and beans to make baked beans but you can use any brand of canned pork and beans you have on hand.
Most canned pork and beans are made with Navy beans, sometimes also referred to as pea beans, or small white beans.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Place the 9 x 13 inch baking pan on a cookie sheet to prevent spills when moving the pan to and from the oven.
- Which canned pork and beans?:I prefer VanCamps pork and beans. The beans taste good and are high quality.
- Bacon: Bacon brands can vary in quality. Buy the best you can afford.
- Brown sugar: I always use dark brown sugar because it is made with molasses and add just enough flavor.
- Onions: Please do not be tempted to leave out the onions.
More BBQ side dish recipes
Best Baked Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 106 oz. canned Pork and Beans ((two 53 ounce cans of VanCamps Pork and Beans))
- 2 ½ cups of dark brown sugar
- 5 whole beef hot dogs (sliced into circles)
- 1 cup of diced onion (finely diced)
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 16 oz. ounce package regular cut bacon
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients, except the bacon to a large 9 x 13 baking pan
- Stir well to combine.
- Arrange bacon slices across the top of the beans.
- Bake in a 350-degree oven for 2 ½ hours or until the bacon is browned and slightly crispy.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Video
Recipe Expert Tips
- All canned beans are not equal. Some have way more liquid than beans. If you use a very runny can of pork and beans the baked beans will be very runny. Pour a small amount of the liquid out of the can before adding the bean to the baking pan. Save it in case you need it later.
- Do not omit the onion.
- You can adjust the brown sugar, slightly.
- Use a spoon to scoop off the excess grease that might come to the top of the baking pan, if needed.
- Place the 9 x 13 inch baking pan on a cookie sheet to prevent spills when moving the pan to and from the oven.
- Which canned pork and beans?:I prefer VanCamps pork and beans. The beans taste good and are high quality.
- Bacon: Bacon brands can vary in quality. Buy the best you can afford.
- Brown sugar: I always use dark brown sugar because it is made with molasses and add just enough flavor.
- Onions: Please do not be tempted to leave out the onions.
Nutrition
Need a perfect BBQ potatoes side dish recipe? Another family favorite BBQ side dish recipe is my skillet Garlic Potatoes recipe.
Laurie
I plan on making this in a large stock pot for a part of 80 - 90 people. Do you think it will be ok if I just cut up the bacon and put it in with the beans as opposed to placing it on top? Any other recommendations?
Laurie
Also... any make ahead recommendations?
Arlene Mobley
Laurie
Sorry I didn't see this comment before the holiday. How did your beans turn out? I bet they were delicious either way. I like to place the bacon slices on top so they get nice and browned but you could also cook it in the beans. It just won't brown.
Laurie
I actually haven't made them yet. They're for a party on 12/16. Should I consider frying the bacon before adding it to the beans? Also... have you ever made them in advance and reheated them?
Thanks for your response!
Arlene Mobley
Hi Laurie
You could fry the bacon. It would have a better texture. I have not made these in advance but I am sure it would be fine if you did mix up the ingredients a day or two ahead. I would hold off on adding the bacon and onion until the day you cook them though. The reason I say the onion also is because the onion flavor might overwhelm the flavor of the beans if they are mixed in for a long period of time before you cook them. With the bacon if you decide not to fry it wait until the day you plan to cook the beans. The raw bacon might get an off color. If you decided to fry the bacon then it should be fine if you mix it in ahead of time.
Sam
As a child, my mom couldn't even sneak onion POWDER past me (separate meatloaf coming up!). I doubt that any self-respecting onion hater would let this slide. lol
Arlene Mobley
LOL Sam I have a family member who if she sees the onion she will not eat whatever it is. I can sneak it by her pretty good as long as she doesn't see it. The brown sugar and slight mustard flavor does a great job of masking the onion flavor in this baked beans recipe.
Anna
Do you drain the beans? I dumped it all in like you said and it was overflowing my 9x13 pan.
Arlene Mobley
Anna
No you don't drain the beans. I've never had this happen but some brands of beans have more liquid. Did you use the Van de Kamp bean brand I mentioned in the recipe?
Hope
I usually make my baked beans with ground beef. But this look delicious!
Arlene Mobley
Thank you Hope!
Leslie
Can you make this in the crockpot
Arlene Mobley
Leslie
I've never tried it in the crock pot.
Debbie
I like to use molasses in my beans. Can I substitute for the ketchup?
Arlene Mobley
Debbie
You could leave out the ketchup but it will alter the flavor a bit. Why not leave it and just add the molasses?
Jennie
When serving, does the bacon break up easily or come out in long strips?
Arlene Mobley
Jenna Tha bacon pieces hold their shape and can easily be cut with a serving spoon. Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the recipe!
debbie
my mom always made her baked beans this way, instead of hot dogs she used the little
smoked sausages, but she said the key to the beans being so good, was cooking,them slow
and for at least two hours
Arlene Mobley
Debbie
Your mom was a smart cookie! Low and slow is the way to make the best baked beans~ thanks for stopping by!
Miz Helen
Your Baked Beans are just fabulous and make me wish picnic time was here right now. Hope you have a very special weekend and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Arlene Mobley
Miz Helen thsnk you so much. Have a great Easter!