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This easy homemade baked beans recipe is a must-have at all of our BBQ’s. Everyone who tries it agrees it’s the best baked beans recipe!
This classic crock pot side dish is great for BBQs and parties and takes just a few minutes to prep. Just dump it in the slow cooker and you’re set!
A BBQ MUST-HAVe
My family LOVES to BBQ, which is a good thing for me because I LOVE BBQ foods. I didn’t always love it, but it’s my hubby’s favorite, and because of that we’ve had it more often, making me like it more.
Now, when the Lunas BBQ, we go all out. Hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, chips, dips, salads, fruit, and tons of sides are always served.
Two recipes we ALWAYS have are my mom’s Potato Salad recipe (it’s the bomb.com!) and my aunt Georgie’s Baked Beans recipe. Everyone always expects these two items to be there, and they’re always gone before you know it because they are so stinkin’ good.
I must admit that I’ve never been a huge fan of baked beans until I had this recipe. They are just so good and go perfect with a summer outdoor BBQ!
How to make easy baked beans
I know some people make baked beans from scratch, but you know me—if there’s an easy (and still delicious) way to make a recipe, that’s the way I do it! Our baked beans recipe uses canned beans with a few additional ingredients.
CROCK POT. Combine all ingredients cook on low for 4 hours. Then, for the last hour, crack the lid open which allows the beans to thicken up.
The type of beans used will depend on what brand of canned Pork and Beans you buy! The beans in the pork and beans are typically some variety of Navy Beans. On the label, it might be under any of these names:
- haricot
- pearl haricot bean
- boston bean
- white bean
- pea bean
How to thicken baked beans: These baked beans should become sweet and thick and delicious. If you find that the beans are too runny there are a few things that you can do.
- Remove the lid and allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
- Smash some of the beans and stir them.
- Add some tomato paste.
- Use a cornstarch slurry: In a separate bowl combine 1 tablespoon cold water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Mix together and then stir it into the baked beans. Repeat if needed.
In the Oven
Place pork and beans, light brown sugar, dry mustard, bacon strips and ketchup in an oven safe dish. Stir and cover with baking lid or aluminum foil.
PREP + BAKE. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes.
Variations + Serving suggestions
Alternative ingredients: British baked beans are navy beans in a tomato sauce. U.S. baked beans take the recipe a little further and add pork (bacon) as well as molasses and brown sugar to make the sauce sweeter and thick. It may also include other ingredients like chopped onion, ketchup, red or green bell pepper, maple syrup and seasoned with garlic salt, black pepper, salt. Some easy variations of this recipe include:
- Use Molasses instead of, or combined with, brown sugar
- Replace the bacon with diced hot dogs or cubed ham
- Swap the ketchup for BBQ sauce
- Add sautéed onions and bell peppers.
- You can even spice it up with chili flakes.
- Adapt it to your tastes!
What to serve with?
Leftovers are just as good!
REHEAT: Place beans in a microwave safe dish heat for 90 seconds and stir. Heat in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until beans are hot. To reheat in the oven place beans in an oven safe dish. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the desired temperature. The amount of beans will affect the cook time.
FREEZE: Allow beans to cool completely. Place left overs in an airtight freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Oh, man I LOVE Baked Beans when we BBQ!! I don’t know why for sure this recipe is my favorite, but it definitely beats any restaurant Baked Beans I have tried. Be sure to check it out and let me know what you think. 🙂
Recipe FAQ
You can use regular canned baked beans as an alternative to pork and beans.
We like to put the entire contents of the can inside the crock pot, but if you prefer to drain your beans, it will make the final result extra thick!
For more great side dishes, check out:
- Fried Zucchini Recipe
- Potato Salad Recipe
- Easy Pasta Salad
- Twice Baked Potaotes
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Skewers
- Slow Cooker Barbecued Green Beans
Baked Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 30 oz cans pork and beans
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 6 slices uncooked bacon cut up
- 1/2 cup ketchup
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together and put into a crock pot. Cook on LOW heat for 5 hours.
- For last hour, take the lid half off and let it continue to cook. Having the lid half off will allow it to thicken up. ENJOY warm.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wish to say thanks for the recipe Easy Pasta Salad that is also a hit a BBQs:
Just a friendly reminder in South Africa what is know as a hit at a BBQ is beer. Lots of beer. And more beer.
Have a good one.
LOL!!
This recipe is very similar to the one handed down to me from my mother. But mine uses hot dogs instead of bacon and I also put 1 1/2 tablespoons of molasses in mine. Very yummy!!
Hot dogs sounds good too! Will have to try that next time. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I will have to try these! I am all about the “cookout” food.
Morgaine @ Madcap Frenzy
http://www.madcapfrenzy.blogspot.com/2013/05/its-my-blogiversary-and-ill-link-party.html
Hugs!
This recipe looks almost exactly like my grandmother’s. The only difference was she put hers in a big ol’ iron pot and baked them in the oven for most of a day. You have my mouth watering…I need to try yours. I never got so adventurous to make hers because of that whole being at home watching the over all day thing. The crockpot would be such an awesome alternative!!! Thanks for posting.
I started reading this post and was all excited hoping you were going to share a baked beans recipe made from scratch! I have been wanting to be able to make them from scratch for a long time (as in from dried pinto beans). I love baked beans! I used to make them similar to your recipe above, but now I just use Busch’s original baked beans and dump the can into a baking dish and bake for 30-45 min or until they thicken up and get the right look and texture to them. They are super yummy, but I feel like it would be cheaper and better PersonalPreparedness-wise to be able to make them from scratch. If anyone has a good recipe from scratch, I would love to see it! I love your blog, by the way, so I hope this comment didn’t sound critical! I just want that “from scratch” recipe
Cool! I actually love baked beans but my husband – not at all. Maybe I’ll still try these and hope he comes around. 🙂
This may be the recipe that brings him around!! Let me know how it goes. 🙂
I love baked beans, but I am the only one in my family that does 🙁 So I only get them at restaurants or at other people’s houses. They look delicious though!!
Oh how I love grilled hamburgers. My favorite meal of all times. I have salad, baked potatoes or corn on the cob,and baked beans. Sometimes I will grill chicken too for anyone that doesn’t eat beef.