This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
These easy baked beans start with canned pork and beans for a quick shortcut, but they taste homemade. Crispy bacon, brown sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce make them sweet, smoky, and perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and family dinners.
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 love making them for cookouts or summer BBQs.
Ingredients in Baked Beans
- Pork and beans: This keeps the recipe easy because the beans are already cooked and saucy. No soaking or dried beans needed.
- Bacon: Cook it until crisp, so it adds smoky flavor and texture.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens the sauce and helps it thicken as it bakes.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds savory depth so the beans do not taste flat.
- Green pepper and onion: Cook them in bacon grease first so they soften and build flavor.
How to Make Easy Baked Beans
These baked beans are sweet, smoky, and so easy to make. They start with canned pork and beans, then get dressed up with crispy bacon, brown sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. Bake them in the oven or make them in the slow cooker for an easy BBQ, potluck, or family dinner side dish.
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F, then fry the bacon in a large skillet and crumble it. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and discard some of the grease.
- Cook the Veggies: Return to the same skillet and add the diced green bell 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 with foil or a lid and bake for 1 hour.
Baked Beans FAQ’s
- Can I Make Baked Beans Ahead of Time? Yes. Make them 1–2 days ahead, let them cool, and store them covered in the refrigerator. Reheat them in the oven, on the stove, or in a slow cooker until warmed through.
- *Potluck Tip: Bake the beans ahead of time, then transfer them to a slow cooker on warm. This keeps them hot and makes them easy to take to a BBQ or family party.
- Do I Drain the Canned Pork and Beans? No, I would not drain them for this recipe. The sauce from the cans helps create the base, and it thickens as the beans bake.
- How Do I Thicken Baked Beans? Bake them uncovered for the last 10–15 minutes if you want them thicker. You can also let them rest for 10 minutes after baking so the sauce has time to settle and thicken.
- Can I Make These in the Slow Cooker? Yes. Cook the bacon, onion, and green pepper first. Then add everything to the slow cooker and cook on low for 4–6 hours.
- What to Serve with Baked Beans: Serve baked beans with burgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, ribs, grilled steak, pasta salad, potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread, or dinner rolls.
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
Baked beans are easy to customize, and this recipe is a great starting point. They are delicious as written, but if you want to add more flavor, try one of these simple variations:
- More smoky: Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika.
- More tangy: Add 1 tablespoon yellow mustard or apple cider vinegar.
- More BBQ flavor: Swap 1/2 cup ketchup for BBQ sauce.
- More hearty: Add cooked ground beef, sausage, or sliced hot dogs.
- More heat: Add diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Best Baked Beans
These easy baked beans are sweet, smoky, and perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and family dinners.
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 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry up 1 pound 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 1 green pepper, and 1 white onion, to some of the bacon grease and cook until tender.
- Stir in the cooked bacon, 4 (15 ounce) cans pork and beans, 1 cup ketchup, 1 cup brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon 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
Leftover Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store cooled baked beans in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheat: Warm on the stove over medium-low heat, in the microwave, or covered in the oven at 350ºF until heated through. Add a splash of water if the sauce gets too thick.
Nutrition
Serving: 8gCalories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 8gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 677mgPotassium: 306mgFiber: 1gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 230IUVitamin C: 14.5mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 0.7mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!
What brand of canned pork & beans is best to use?
My secret ingredient is 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon! It is delicious!
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.
Easy and great flavor!