Easy Baked Beans
The Perfect Summer Cookout Side Dish
When I think of baked beans, I usually picture dumping them straight from a can into a pot. If someone brings a baked beans recipe to a cookout, I expect them to be doctored up a bit with bacon and sugar, and baked in the oven for that extra touch. This recipe, however, is a showstopper that goes beyond the usual. I’m going to show you how to make easy baked beans from scratch. You’ll make your own sauce, which is incredibly easy, fry up some bacon, and then cook diced peppers and onions in the bacon fat. Then mix the beans with the sauce, bacon, and peppers and bake to perfection.
What Are Baked Beans?
Baked beans are a traditional dish commonly found in American and British cuisine. They are typically made from white beans, such as navy beans or great northern beans, that are baked or simmered in a sweet and savory sauce. This sauce often includes ingredients like tomato sauce or ketchup, molasses or brown sugar, vinegar, and various seasonings. The dish is frequently enhanced with additional flavors from ingredients like bacon, onions, and bell peppers.
In American cuisine, baked beans with bacon are a popular side dish at barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. They are known for their rich, hearty flavor and slightly sweet taste, making them a comforting and satisfying addition to any meal.
In British cuisine, baked beans are often served on toast for breakfast or as part of a traditional English breakfast. The sauce in British baked beans tends to be less sweet and more tomato-based compared to the American version.
Baked beans are versatile and can be enjoyed in various ways, whether as a side dish, on toast, or even as a main course when paired with other ingredients. Their combination of beans and flavorful sauce makes them a beloved comfort food across different cultures.
Ingredients for Easy Baked Beans
- 3 (15 oz) cans of navy beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F
- In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spatula and drain on a paper towel.
- In the same skillet, sauté the onions and green bell pepper in the bacon fat until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the drained navy beans, sautéed onions and bell pepper, and cooked bacon to the bowl. Stir to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until bubbly and thickened.
- Serve hot as a side dish at your summer cookout.
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While this recipe contains saturated fat, sugar, and molasses, it’s all about enjoying in moderation. I never imagined I’d enjoy baked beans so much that I would go back for seconds, but I guarantee if you bring these baked beans to a cookout, at least one person is going to ask you for the recipe. And when they do, I hope you’ll tell them you got it from In Jamie’s Kitchen.
These baked beans are not only delicious but also have that homemade touch that makes all the difference. Trust me, they will be the highlight of your cookout spread!
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Easy Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 3 15 oz cans navy beans drained and rinsed
- 1 onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp mustard powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 6 slices bacon chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F
- In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spatula and drain on a paper towel.
- In the same skillet, sauté the onions and green bell pepper in the bacon fat until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix together the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the drained navy beans, sautéed onions and bell pepper, and cooked bacon to the bowl. Stir to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until bubbly and thickened.
- Serve hot as a side dish at your summer cookout.
Video
@injamieskitchen Easy baked beans recipe is perfect for your Father’s Day cookout this weekend. I promise, if you bring these, you WILL get asked for the recipe. #easybakedbeans #bakedbeansrecipe #fathersdaycookout
♬ original sound – In Jamie’s Kitchen
This has become a family favorite! Thank you!