Best Baked Beans Recipe
This baked beans recipe is the one recipe in my family recipes stash that is my families all time favorite bbq sidedish recipe. It is so easy to make because it calls for canned VanCamps Pork & Beans.
I have been making these baked beans for over twenty-five years ever since a family friend shared her baked bean recipe with me. I originally shared this recipe back in 2014.
Since the 4th of July is next week I decided I needed to share it again. You want to make this best baked bean recipe this 4th of July!
Over the years, I have adjusted the recipe to suit my tastes.
Now it is known as my baked beans recipe. It is the best bbq side dish recipe there is.
I make it the most over the summer months when we have a big backyard family bbq’s and will be making it for the 4th of July.
I mentioned that this recipe calls for VannCamps beans.
You can use whatever brand of canned beans that you like best but I have found over the years that VannCamp’s beans are the best for this recipe.
Plus it is the only brand of canned pork and beans that are available in such a large size can around here.
A word about cooking with bacon
Bacon brands can vary in quality. The problem with using a cheap brand of bacon is that a lower cost bacon is made with a lower cost cut of pork.
There is more fat on the cheaper bacon.
The fat can clearly be seen through the packaging.
I mention this because there will be a lot of bacon grease floating on the top of your pan of baked beans if you use an extra fatty package of bacon.
Buy the best bacon you can afford to avoid this bacon pitfall.
Or use a spoon to scoop off the grease that rises to the top of the pan before serving it.
A word about cooking with onions
Please do not be tempted to leave out the onions in this recipe because someone in the family hates onions.
Make it once with the onions (cut them up very finely) and don’t tell the family if you have a picky eater.
I have family members who would never eat anything with raw onions in it but gobble these baked beans up like there is no tomorrow.
The onions cook down so much that you can’t tell there are onions in this baked beans recipe.
If you leave the onions out then the baked beans recipe will suffer for it. They add a very important layer of flavor.
This baked beans recipe is so easy to make, has only 7 ingredients and two of them are condiments AND you only need to dirty the baking dish you will be baking the baked beans in.
Besides the great taste of these baked beans, this is the kind of recipe I like. One that doesn’t make a pile of dirty dishes!
Assemble all your Baked Beans Ingredients
Add all the Baked Beans ingredients to a 9 x 13 baking pan, except the bacon.
Stir all the Baked Beans ingredients well.
Arrange the bacon over the Baked Beans ingredients
Bake the Baked Beans in a 350F oven
The best-baked beans recipes always cook low and slow. Depending on your oven, of course, check frequently.
I like to cook my baked beans for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours but I have cooked them even longer than that at 325F.
How to make the Best Baked Beans
- two 53 ounce cans of Van Camps Pork and Beans
- 2½ cups of brown sugar
- 5 hot dogs, sliced into circles
- 1 cup of onion, finely diced
- 4 tablespoons Heinz Ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- one 16 ounce package bacon
- 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 2½ hours or until the bacon is browned and slightly crispy.
Print the Best Baked Beans recipe below
Best Baked Beans Recipe
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Prep Time: 10 mins -
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 mins
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Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
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Yield: 12 Servings -
Category: BBQ Side Dish -
Method: Baked -
Cuisine: American
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
A family favorite quick Baked Beans recipe that will feed a crowd or just the family with plenty of leftovers for the next day. This is the best baked beans recipe you will ever taste. Perfect barbecue side dish recipe. Delicious homemade baked beans with canned beans and bacon.
Ingredients
- two 53 ounce cans of Van Camps Pork and Beans
- 2 1/2 cups of brown sugar
- 5 hot dogs, sliced into circles
- 1 cup of onion, finely diced
- 4 tablespoons Heinz Ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- one 16 ounce package 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 1/2 hours or until the bacon is browned and slightly crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 695
Keywords: quick homemade baked beans, homemade baked beans, easy baked beans with bacon,
Need a perfect BBQ potatoes side dish recipe? Another family favorite BBQ side dish recipe is my skillet Garlic Potatoes recipe.
Love the Best Baked Beans recipe? Check out my BBQ Recipe page
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!
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!
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
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?
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.
Anna
Do you drain the beans? I dumped it all in like you said and it was overflowing my 9×13 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?
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.
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.
★★★★★