Easy Baked Beans Recipe – Sweet, Savory & Crowd-Pleasing

If you ask me, no backyard BBQ or summer cookout is complete without a big dish of sweet and smoky baked beans. I’ve tested this baked beans recipe for years, and it always disappears first at family gatherings.

I still remember my mom pulling out her old casserole dish, stirring in canned beans, brown sugar, ketchup, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce, then baking it low and slow until it bubbled up sticky and caramelized around the edges. We’d pile our plates high with grilled hot dogs, coleslaw, and a giant spoonful of these beans.

This version is foolproof and flexible — you can bake them in the oven or toss them in the slow cooker if you’d rather not heat up the kitchen. I’ll show you exactly how to get that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory every time. Plus, I’ve packed this post with swaps, variations, storage tips, and all the ways to make these beans your own. Let’s get cooking!

Why You’ll Love This Baked Beans Recipe

• Sweet & Savory: That classic combo of brown sugar, ketchup, and smoky bacon.
• Easy to Make: Just stir everything together and bake.
• Perfect Side Dish: Pairs with BBQ, burgers, or hot dogs.
• Flexible Cooking: Make it in the oven or the crock pot.
• Crowd-Pleaser: Everyone asks for the recipe!

If you’ve ever searched for an easy baked beans side dish that’s homemade but simple, this one’s for you.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this baked beans recipe — simple pantry staples!

• 6 cups canned pork and beans (about 3 cans, 15 oz each)
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1/2 pound ground beef (optional, but hearty!)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce (use your favorite!)
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste

📌 Tip: A mix of BBQ sauce and ketchup gives the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

Ingredient Substitutions

• Ground Beef: Leave it out for a lighter dish, or swap with ground turkey.
• Bacon: Try smoked sausage or omit for a vegetarian version.
• Yellow Mustard: Dijon or brown mustard works if you like more tang.
• Barbecue Sauce: Use homemade or a spicy version for a kick.
• Canned Beans: Use cooked dry beans if you like — navy beans or great northern beans are perfect!

How to Make Baked Beans

Here’s how I make this classic baked beans recipe — it’s easy, but full of that slow-cooked taste.

1. Preheat & prep:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a large baking dish or casserole dish. (5 minutes)

2. Cook the bacon & beef:

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. In the same pan, add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up any clumps. Drain excess fat. (10 minutes)

3. Sauté veggies:

Add diced onion and green pepper to the skillet with the cooked beef. Sauté until softened, about 4–5 minutes. (5 minutes)

4. Mix it all up:

In a large bowl, combine pork and beans, cooked bacon, beef and veggie mix, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir well until fully combined. (5 minutes)

5. Bake:

Pour mixture into your greased baking dish. Bake uncovered for 45–60 minutes, or until bubbly and slightly thickened with caramelized edges. (45–60 minutes)

📌 Tip: Stir once halfway through for even cooking!

6. Serve:

Let the beans rest for 5–10 minutes to thicken before serving. Perfect with burgers, hot dogs, or grilled chicken! (5 minutes)

Expert Tips for Success

✅ Use a mix of beans: If you like, combine different beans for texture — kidney beans, pinto beans, or navy beans.

✅ Slow Cooker Option: Combine everything in your crock pot and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours.

✅ Caramelized edges: Baking uncovered helps the edges get sticky and sweet.

✅ Add more sauce if needed: If your beans get too thick, stir in a splash of water or more BBQ sauce.

✅ Taste as you go: Adjust the sweetness with extra brown sugar or more mustard for tang.

Variations & Add-Ons

• Meaty Version: Add ground beef, sausage, or even pulled pork.
• Spicy Kick: Add diced jalapeños or a splash of hot sauce.
• Vegetarian: Skip the bacon and beef — use smoked paprika for flavor.
• Molasses: Add a tablespoon for deep old-fashioned flavor.
• Apple: Stir in a diced green apple for sweet-tart notes.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve baked beans alongside grilled burgers, hot dogs, or BBQ ribs.
• Add a side of coleslaw for a refreshing crunch.
• Spoon leftovers over toast for a hearty breakfast.
• Pile on top of baked potatoes for a filling dinner.
• Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley for color.

Storage & Reheating

Fridge:
Store cooled beans in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer:
Freeze baked beans in freezer-safe bags or containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Reheating:
Reheat gently in a saucepan over medium heat, adding a splash of water if needed, or microwave in 30-second bursts.

Nutrition Information

Approximate per serving (based on 8 servings):

• Calories: 300 kcal
• Protein: 12 g
• Carbs: 35 g
• Fat: 12 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Sodium: ~500 mg

Prep, Cook, and Total Time

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Conclusion

There you have it — my best baked beans recipe that’s sweet, smoky, and made to please any crowd. It’s foolproof, flexible, and guaranteed to be a hit at every cookout, potluck, or Sunday dinner.

If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Leave a comment, rate it, or share your own tasty twist. Happy cooking, my friend — and don’t forget to grab an extra spoonful for yourself!

Baked Beans Recipe

This easy baked beans recipe is sweet, smoky, and loaded with flavor. Make them in the oven or slow cooker — the perfect side dish for any BBQ! I’ve tested this baked beans recipe for years, and it always disappears first at family gatherings. Sweet and savory with brown sugar, barbecue sauce, and bacon, they’re crowd-pleasing every single time.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Servings

Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 6 cups canned pork and beans about 3 cans, 15 oz each
• 6 slices bacon chopped
• 1/2 pound ground beef optional, but hearty!
• 1 small onion diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper diced
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce use your favorite!
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Preheat & prep:
• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a large baking dish or casserole dish. (5 minutes)
• Cook the bacon & beef:
• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. In the same pan, add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up any clumps. Drain excess fat. (10 minutes)
• Sauté veggies:
• Add diced onion and green pepper to the skillet with the cooked beef. Sauté until softened, about 4–5 minutes. (5 minutes)
• Mix it all up:
• In a large bowl, combine pork and beans, cooked bacon, beef and veggie mix, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir well until fully combined. (5 minutes)
• Bake:
• Pour mixture into your greased baking dish. Bake uncovered for 45–60 minutes, or until bubbly and slightly thickened with caramelized edges. (45–60 minutes)
• Serve:
• Let the beans rest for 5–10 minutes to thicken before serving. Perfect with burgers, hot dogs, or grilled chicken! (5 minutes)

Notes

• Use a mix of beans: If you like, combine different beans for texture — kidney beans, pinto beans, or navy beans.
• Slow Cooker Option: Combine everything in your crock pot and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours.
• Caramelized edges: Baking uncovered helps the edges get sticky and sweet.
• Add more sauce if needed: If your beans get too thick, stir in a splash of water or more BBQ sauce.
• Taste as you go: Adjust the sweetness with extra brown sugar or more mustard for tang.

Keyword baked beans recipe, easy baked beans, perfect side dish, brown sugar, slow cooker, barbecue sauce, yellow mustard, ground beef, dry beans