The Best Baked Beans
The Best Baked Beans are hearty and thick. Bring these to your next potluck or BBQ and everyone will agree that these are the best homemade baked beans. They are the perfect side to ham, burgers, hot dogs, and fit for an occasion like Easter, Fourth of July, or Christmas.
THE BEST BAKED BEANS
Homemade baked beans are always a menu item essential to any BBQ or potluck. I have one recipe on this blog for baked beans and it’s my friend Heidi’s Famous Baked Beans.
They’re fabulous which is why I didn’t feel the need to ever look for another recipe. Everyone that makes them, loves them.
Heidi’s recipe however doesn’t have beef in it, so I feel like there’s also room for this recipe which has a whopping pound and a half of savory beef.
HOMEMADE BAKED BEANS
My sister has a trick where she just buys canned baked beans and puts them in a slow cooker like she made them herself! Guess what? I can tell for sure and I’m sure most people can tell that they aren’t homemade. Gigs up sis.
BAKED BEANS RECIPE
The sauce is a mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, soy sauce, and spicy brown mustard.
The sauce blends beautifully in the oven, simmering away for 45 minutes. Add this to your Fourth of July menu!
HOW TO MAKE THESE BAKED BEANS
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Next, in a large saucepan brown the ground beef. When beef is about halfway done add the onions and bell peppers. Continue to cook until beef is done and the veggies are soft. Drain meat mixture.
- Add the pork and beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar to the mixture. Simmer mixture for 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Finally, sprinkle the bacon pieces over the top of the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let dish sit for 10 minutes before serving.
WHAT SIDE SHOULD I BRING TO A POTLUCK?
Finally, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this question. Baked beans are probably the most requested side at any potluck.
However, if you are looking for other popular BBQ sides, I would suggest this Broccoli Salad, Cowboy Caviar, Frito Corn Dip, or this Crunchy Pea Salad.
HOW DO I TRANSPORT THIS DISH?
I would suggest transferring them to a slow cooker or crock pot to keep them warm if you’re not eating them right away.
OTHER POTLUCK RECIPES
- Hawaiian Baked Beans
- Green Bean Casserole Recipe
- The Best Bean Dip
- Heavenly Green Beans
- Pizza Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
The Best Baked Beans
This recipe for The Best Baked Beans is hearty and thick. Bring these to your next potluck or BBQ and everyone will agree that these are the best homemade baked beans.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 red or green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
- 2 (16-oz cans) pork and beans
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 6 to 8 slices bacon, cut into pieces and cooked
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large saucepan brown the ground beef. When beef is about halfway done add the onions and bell peppers. Continue to cook until beef is done and the veggies are soft. Drain meat mixture.
- Add the pork and beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar to the mixture. Simmer mixture for 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the bacon pieces over the top of the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let dish sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
Source: The Food Network
I made these the other day and they are delicious! Everyone loved them. The only change I made was I only used one pound of ground beef and I put them in the crock pot for 4 hours.
Thanks for the recipe!
Beans out of a can are not homemade beans.
Just wondering, do you drain the pork and beans?
I love baked beans! It is a must for all grilling all summer long!
I agree! And these are the best!
Was wondering what kind of BBQ sauce, and spicy brown Mustad is best to use. Hoping to try soon. Thank you
Honestly it’s totally up to you. I use Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and mustard from my deli.
These baked beans were a huge hit with my family. We love how hearty they are with the ground beef added in!
Thanks Milisa!
These baked beans are amazing… a perfect side dish recipe1
Thank you!
Baked beans are always a must-have for our family cookouts. So delicious!
Thanks Jamie!
I made these to go along side my burgers and it was the perfect side dish. Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you Kristen!
Theo’s bqq beans its been 15 years the last one I had them and I tried the Recipe I dont have no words for it just the best thx for w everything
Awww thanks!
any idea on how to do this recipe in the crock pot?
THIS WAS GREAT!!! I took it to a family barbecue and every loved it! I am now officially the baked beans bringer for our family get togethers.
AWESOME!!!! So glad I could help.
I see you said that these can be cooked in the crockpot for 4 hours. Is this on high or low?
On low!
Made this for a family reunion. It was so good that I’m pretty sure I’m no longer the black sheep of the family!
Thank for you for an amazing recipe.
Haha that’s hilarious.
Delicious!! Made this yesterday to take to a 4th of July cookout. Everyone loved it!! I used onion powder instead of an onion and left out the pepper also. Will definitely make this again.
So glad you loved it!
Can I make these in the crockpot? And for how long?
You definitely need to brown the meat ahead of time but then you can cook it for 4 hours in a crockpot.
I rarely write reviews online but felt compelled on this one. The recipe came out delicious. Only had one pound of venison burger on hand and used bacon fat to sauté. Didn’t drain the cooked liquid but half drained the beans (1 can Pork n Beans/1 can Tri-blend beans). We don’t eat a lot of sweetened foods, so this was a treat. Definitely a go to for any picnic or potluck.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it as much as we did.
This is ABSOLUTELY delicious! I use a sweet and spicey sausage instead of the ground beef and it’s such an added touch to an already amazing recipe.
I bet it was so good!
I’ve made these several times. always a hit. I hate baked beans but I love these. Sometimes I’ll just do one pound of hamburger in them and add more bacon in the beans as well as what goes on top. If I’m feeling some other type of beans i’ll switch one or both cans for another flavor like the homestyle bush’s. These are the only baked beans i’ll make.
Great tips. Thank you Chelsi!
Is there a better combination on this green earth than beans and bacon?
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
I don’t think so!
Just ok for us. Not going to give up on them just yet. It seems to have all the right ingredients but something was off. I think adding some white vinegar will make these taste normal.
Found your recipe when searching for last-minute potluck ideas. They smell amazing! My wife’s coworkers are going to love these. Thank you!
Completely awesome, best beans I have ever eaten!
Oh thank you!
These sound & look delicious. I’ll be making these next Saturday night for my pastor’s surprise 80th birthday gathering! Can’t wait to eat them! 😊
Hope you love them!
Ok to use a foil pan?
Absolutely!
I tried these beans for Father’s Day and they were delicious! I plan on making them for my daughter’s first birthday party as well. Can I prep these the night before and cook them the next day?
Absolutely! Just leave the bacon out so it doesn’t get soggy.
Made these for Memorial Day BBQ and now 4th of July bbq. Sooo good!!
Thank you! They’re one of my faves.
Your baked beans sauce seems very nice. This type of baked beans can be preseve and frozen like other baked beans were, can’t it?
Yes!
Do you need to drain the cans of pork and beans beforehand or use the liquid in the cans as well?
I use the whole can liquid and all.
Made these tonight for hubby and I they truly are the best baked beans, had left overs put them in freezer for another dinner maybe with a tossed salad. Very hardy thank you for the recipe.
You’re welcome!