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These World’s Best Baked Beans will be the last recipe you will ever make! This easy recipe is the perfect side to a potluck and a tried and true family recipe that your family will go crazy over!
A good side dish really makes a meal, in my opinion. Try out some more of my favorite sides that will complement just about anything! My favorites are these Creamy Parmesan Garlic Brussels Sprouts, this delicious Grilled Asparagus, and these yummy 1-Hour Dinner Rolls.
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy: This recipe uses simple ingredients but put them together and you have the best baked beans for any potluck!
- It Has Bacon: Are baked beans even worth eating if they don’t have bacon? The added ingredient fills the beans with flavor.
- Goes With Everything: These beans can be used as a side to so many different recipes! I especially love having them at all of my summer BBQs.
World’s Best Baked Beans Recipe
This recipe is a family tried and true favorite! It’s simple to make, and it’s packed full of flavor. Using canned pork and beans make it so easy and no one will ever know because the other ingredients make this recipe shine! The secret to these baked beans is the bacon and brown sugar and the incredible flavor that it adds. They are hearty and rich, and turn out perfect every single time! The best part is that once they’re baked, you can put it in a slow cooker to keep it warm. Keeping them in the slow cooker also makes it easy to transport.
Our family requests these beans for every occasion, especially in the summer! Serve these beans at your next BBQ alongside this pasta salad and some grilled chicken. You won’t regret it!
Ingredients in Baked Beans
These ingredients are simple and easy for the world’s best baked beans. Once you try this recipe you will always want to have these ingredients on hand! It’s a perfect side dish because it goes with everything! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact ingredient measurements.
- Bacon: The crispy bacon is the secret ingredient that really makes this recipe stand out.
- Green Pepper: I like to dice this up nice and small.
- White Onion: You can also use a yellow onion if that’s what you have.
- Pork and Beans: This part is so easy. You just open the cans and dump them in!
- Ketchup: This adds a deeper flavor to the beans.
- Brown Sugar: The brown sugar adds a sweet flavor that goes especially well with the bacon.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This savory and sweet sauce complements the other ingredients perfectly.
How to Make Easy Baked Beans
The world’s best baked beans take just over an hour to bake. Prepare the beans in the morning so that it’s ready to throw in the oven when you need them. This is easy because then you can bake them while you make the main course.
- Preheat Oven/ Cook the Bacon: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry up the bacon and crumble in pieces. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and discard some of the grease.
- Cook the Green Pepper and Onion: Returning to the same skillet, add the diced green pepper and onion to some of the bacon grease then cook until tender.
- Stir in the Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the cooked bacon, pork and beans, ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Place the beans in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil or a lid and bake for 1 hour.
How do I Cook Baked Beans in a Slow Cooker or on the Stove?
Looking for more ways to cook the world’s best baked beans? Even though baking them is the preferred method, you can definitely cook them in a slow cooker or over the stove.
- In the Slow Cooker: Follow all of the steps in the recipe card but instead of combining the ingredients in a 9×13 pan, place them in a slow cooker. Cook the beans on low for 4-6 hours.
- On the Stove: Use a large Dutch oven over the stove to cook and combine all of your ingredients. Follow all of the steps in the recipe card, but instead of baking the beans, allow them to simmer on the stove in the Dutch oven for one hour.
How to Store Leftovers
These world’s best baked beans make even better leftovers! Once the beans have cooled then make sure to save the leftovers for another day. The flavors meld together and are incredible!
- In the Refrigerator: Once cooled, place the beans in an airtight container. Store the beans in your fridge for 3-4 days.
- To Reheat: When you are ready to eat them again, you can reheat them on low-medium heat on the stove until they are warmed through.
More Ideas For a Potluck
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World’s Best Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1 white onion, diced
- 4 (15 ounce) cans pork and beans
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry up the bacon and crumble in pieces. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and discard some of the grease.
- Returning to the same skillet, add the diced green pepper and onion to some of the bacon grease and cook until tender.
- Stir in the cooked bacon, pork and beans, ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Place the beans in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cover the baking dish with foil or a lid and bake for 1 hour.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have made these beans many times and every one loves them but I also add hamburger, mustard, and a good IPA beer !!!
These are the best baked beans.
This is the closest recipe I have found that compares to my moms famous baked beans. She used bell pepper and a lot of brown sugar too. She always said when you think it’s enough brown sugar, add more. She always swore you had to use VanCamp’s, no substitutes. I made this for a company party and they loved them. Then took some to my elderly neighbor. He loved them and said they were just like his moms.
Full disclosure: I made this recipe, but did not eat it. I am not a fan of beans (texture issues). My husband loves them, so I thought I would make them for him and some baked bean loving friends who were coming to dinner. I bought Bush’s Baked Beans by mistake, so went back for the pork and beans. My husband looked disappointed when he saw me using the pork and beans. He said Bush’s were his favorite. I told him I was making a recipe and not just heating up a can of beans. He didn’t look convinced. I told him if they didn’t turn out, I would open up the can of Bush’s. I made the stove top version of this recipe – as written. He has been raving ever since saying they are the best baked beans he has ever had. My friends loved them as well. Thanks for the recipe. I will look no further when making baked beans the next time.
add a can of crushed pineapple drained. The secret ingredient. Fantastic
This is like a recipe I would make. Once when I didn’t have any bacon I substituted sliced and browned hot dogs. I haven’t used bacon since. My family loved it ! Serve with garlic bread or corn muffins and a salad. Makes a fast and inexpensive meal
I use molasses instead of brown sugar ,and fat back in place of bacon,very similar but a little sweeter , instead of green peppers and onions I slice baby gertion pickles for a little crunch
Done this recipe about ten times and I have changed a few things first no ketchup I use spicy BBQ sauce second I use bacon and homemade smoked pulled pork a pound each and last I use 3 large Anaheim peppers instead of bell peppers love the flavor of the original but wanted to give it a boost thanks
10/10
This is very similar to what i do. I am usually making this for a big crowd and I use a base of pork and beans but I also use 3 or 4 other kinds of beans, Like butter beans, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, etc. All drained of course. And I use a chopped seeded jalapeno in with the peppers it doesn’t make it hot it just gives it a really another layer of flavor. And i use red and orange peppers just for color.
This recipe is truly the last one you would ever need. It is simple, but yet very tasteful. I love it. Thank you for sharing.
So I followed your recipe with two exceptions first I used 3 Anaheim chilies second instead of 1 cup ketchup I used 1/2 cup and 1/2 spicy BBQ sauce was sooooooo gooooood everyone loves them. I am a Meat smoker, brisket pork butt ribs and cold smoked cheese and sell my product and this is now on the menu thank you
Jim
the 3 anahiems chilis are in place of the bell pepper
I make so etching similar. But call them Settler Beans. But a few things we add additionally are. Smoked Sausage, can of Butter Beans, BBQ sauce. We make a meal of Reese and serve it with cornbread. Thanks for the reminder that I need to bake them again. They are a favorite at church. I’made always asked to bring them.
Sorry my tablet is acting up and prints different words. If questions you can email me. Thanks.
Need to know carb amounts. Recipe stated 38 mg but the amount given was confusing, “8g”. Not sure what 8 g means.
8 grams
Easy and great flavor!
Do you leave juice in with the canned beans?
Yes, you don’t need to drain the beans.