The BEST Baked Beans

The BEST Baked Beans. Loaded with bacon, onion, garlic, and molasses. The perfect side dish for barbecues, picnics, or for the Fourth of July!

Looking for more easy side dish ideas? Try my Instant Pot Potato Salad or my Homemade Pea Salad. No oven is required for either!

These Baked Beans are AMAZING! They are a perfect side dish for cookouts, barbecues, and for the Fourth of July! The best baked beans are the perfect combination of sweet, tangy, and smokey with a hint of spice!

This dish can be made in two ways: in the oven or on the stovetop. Both ways are super easy and are ready in less than an hour.

You can easily double this recipe to make enough for a crowd! I like to keep them warm in the oven at 200 degrees or in a slow cooker on warm.

What you’ll need for this recipe

• Cans of Pork and Beans: Canned pork and beans is the main ingredient of this recipe. I prefer to use canned rather than cooking the beans from scratch because it’s so much easier! You can also use vegetarian baked beans if desired.
• Bacon: Bacon gets crisped to add extra flavor, and the onion and garlic get sautéed in the bacon fat rather than regular oil.
• Onion and garlic: These two ingredients are key to making the best baked beans! They add an amazing aroma. You can use pre-minced garlic and pre-diced onions for ease if desired.
• Ketchup: Adds plenty of sweet tomato flavor. feel free to add in low sodium or low sugar ketchup.
• Molasses: This thick syrup adds a deep sweet taste. Honey or maple syrup can be substituted if needed.
• Red Wine: The red wines I like to use for this recipe are Malbec, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Brown Sugar: Just a little more sweetness is brought by the brown sugar. Use either light or dark.
• Worcestershire Sauce: To cut the sweetness, Worcestershire sauce adds tanginess.
• Chili Powder: Just a little kick of heat, I add a small amount of chili powder. You can also use cayenne powder, hot paprika, red chili flakes, or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.

Baking Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook bacon and set aside. Leave the bacon grease in the pan. Crumble bacon once it has cooled.
3. Sauté onion and garlic: Meanwhile, add onion and garlic to the same pan and saute until tender.
4. Add other ingredients: Next stir in ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, red wine, and chili powder. Stir in the cooked bacon.
5. Bake! Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes to an hour or until warmed through.
6. Keep warm: Keep the best baked beans in the oven at 200 degrees to stay warm until you are ready to serve.

Stovetop Method

1. Cook bacon in a large pot until fully cooked and crispy. Remove from the pan but leave the bacon fat in the pan. Crumble bacon once it has cooled.
2. Sauté onion and garlic: Meanwhile, add onion and garlic to the same pan and saute until tender.
3. Add other ingredients: Next stir in ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, red wine, and chili powder. Stir in the cooked bacon.
4. Simmer the baked beans for 30-35 minutes covered, stirring occasionally.

Can you make Baked Beans in a Slow Cooker?

Yes! Simply cook the bacon separately then add it to the slow cooker along with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Leave in a warm setting until you are ready to serve!

What to serve with The BEST Baked Beans

Here are a few recipes I love to have with these Baked Beans:

• Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Barbecue Sandwich
• Bow Tie Pasta Salad
• BLT Pasta Salad
• Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
• Easy Macaroni Salad
• Broccoli Salad
• Grilled Vegetable Panzanella Salad
• Air Fryer Vegetables
• Homemade cornbread

How do you make baked beans taste better?

By adding a few extra ingredients like onion and garlic sautéed in bacon fat, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, ketchup, and crumbled crispy bacon, you can easily make homemade baked beans taste so much better than straight from the can!

Should baked beans be covered when baking?

I don’t cover my baked beans at all when baking them in the oven. This helps to thicken them up and intensifies the flavors.

Do you drain baked beans before cooking?

No, to make the best baked beans, add the sauce along with the baked beans. The sauce adds to the flavor and tastes great!

Here are more side dish recipes to try!

• Creamy Confetti Corn
• Berry Fruit Salad
• Grilled Sweet Potato Wedges
• Macaroni and Cheese

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