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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Published: May 17, 2022 by Danielle · This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.

    Thick & Rich Canned Baked Beans

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    Cast iron skillet full of baked beans with wooden serving spoon overlayed with graphics.
    Two pictures of easy baked beans with graphic overlay.

    Want to know how to make canned baked beans taste homemade? These Canned Baked Beans take store-bought canned beans and dress them up with bacon and other flavorings for that “from scratch” taste! Bake in a cast iron skillet or dutch oven for a thick and rich side dish perfect for all your summer bbqs and picnics.

    A towel wrapped around cast iron skillet full of Easy Baked Beans (using canned beans).
    A cast iron skillet or dutch oven transforms canned baked beans and other flavorings into a thick syrupy side dish reminiscent of homemade in a fraction of the time.
    Skip to:
    • 🥇 Why it’s great!
    • 🍎 Key ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make doctored canned beans
    • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd
    • 🙋 Questions and Answers
    • What to serve with canned baked beans
    • 👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks
    • 📖 Other great bbq and picnic recipes
    • 👋🏻 Connect with us!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    It’s so easy to make canned baked beans taste homemade. Essentially simple ingredients are combined to produce a thick sauce with rich flavor.

    • Add in some cooked bacon.
    • Add in aromatic vegetables like bell peppers, jalapenos, chopped onion, and garlic.
    • Sweeten with the deep flavor of molasses.
    • Add tang with mustard and BBQ sauce.

    While I have nothing against making baked beans from dry beans, it can be rather tricky and time consuming. Doctoring up canned beans is infinitely better!

    This recipe is a modified version of one from the Pioneer Woman.

    🥇 Why it’s great!

    • This recipe uses the shortcut of canned baked beans and dresses them up so they have homemade flavor.
    • The beans are perfectly cooked each time. No wondering if the beans are going to turn out hard.
    • They take 15 minutes of hands-on time. After that you pop them in the oven and go about your day.
    • They are delicious for your next potluck, summer picnics, or BBQ's all year long.
    Easy Baked Beans Ingredients including canned beans, bacon, peppers, onions, garlic, and condiments.
    The canned baked beans and the barbeque sauce will be major flavor profiles in these easy baked beans, so choose brands that you enjoy.

    🍎 Key ingredients

    A full list of the ingredients is in the recipe card below, but here are a few noteworthy tips.

    Canned Beans: Any brand of canned baked beans can be used in this recipe. My favorite beans have the sweetness of maple syrup and the smoky flavor of bacon to start with. We are just going to intensify it.
    Bacon: A good hardwood smoked bacon adds a smoky quality to these beans, but any bacon will do.
    Yellow mustard: Regular yellow mustard is preferred, but stone ground mustard or spicy brown mustard can be substituted.
    Barbeque sauce: Any brand and flavor of bbq sauce will work in this recipe. Choose the one you like best.
    Molasses: Instead of brown sugar this recipe uses molasses without additional sugar. Although this is an optional ingredient it adds a depth of flavor that is absolutely delicious.
    Jalapeno: Once the jalapeno is cooked the spice level is mellowed. The seeds may be removed to lower the heat level but maintain the flavor. Choose more or less depending on your heat preference.

    🔪 How to make doctored canned beans

    *Note: This recipe yields enough for 16-20 servings. If you want to cut it in half use an 8-inch cast iron skillet (affiliate) or small dutch oven. 

    Start by cooking the diced bacon over medium heat in the 12-inch cast iron skillet (affiliate) or dutch oven until crispy. Be sure to get it as crispy as you like it. It will not get crispier once mixed in with the can of beans. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon leaving a little bit of bacon fat for flavor.

    Add all the vegetables to the bacon grease and cook until tender, which should take about 4-5 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep them cooking evenly.

    Three steps in doctoring up canned baked beans with homemade flavor.
    Cast iron is the perfect vessel for making baked beans. Each step can take place in the same skillet which makes for less dishes.

    In order to make everything fit, each can of beans needs about ¼ of its liquid drained off. Now add in all remaining ingredients, except for one can of the beans and stir well. Carefully add in the final can of beans and stir gently. The pan will be VERY full! The entire recipe does fit but just barely. 

    They bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes until they are thickened and bubby. For a bit of insurance, place a piece of heavy duty foil or a cookie sheet under the skillet to catch any drips.

    If you don't have a cast iron pan this can be made in a large skillet on the stove top then transfer to a baking dish.

    Canned beans in a thick and rich sauce flavored with bacon, pepper, onions, and garlic.
    Place a cookie sheet or piece of foil in the oven just in case any syrup spills over the edge.

    👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd

    These Canned Baked Beans are the best baked beans recipe for serving a crowd. They are absolutely perfect for family reunions, potlucks, BBQ’s, and picnics. Each recipe requires a 12-inch cast iron skillet (affiliate). If doubling, use 2 skillets or use a large dutch oven. A doubled recipe will serve a lot of people.

    If desired they can be made in a slow cooker although they won’t be quite as thick and rich. See the FAQ's below.

    Wooden serving spoon scooping out doctored up canned baked beans.
    These beans are a perfect side dish for serving to a crowd. If doubling the recipe be sure to use two skillets or a large dutch oven.

    🙋 Questions and Answers

    Can I freeze baked beans?

    Absolutely! They can be frozen before or after baking. Make sure to put them in an airtight container. If they were already baked they might be a little stiff so feel free to thin them out with a bit of water.

    Can easy baked beans be prepped ahead?

    Baked beans prep ahead beautifully, which makes them perfect for taking to a get together. Once it is time to stir everything together do so in a large bowl or tupperware. When it is time to bake them carefully transfer to the cast iron skillet or dutch oven and bake as directed.

    Can this bean recipe be made in a slow cooker?

    These baked beans can be made in a slow cooker, but because of the difference in cooking environments, they won't develop the same thick texture. Instead they often end up more liquidy. You can try to prevent that by draping a clean kitchen towel across the crock pot and placing the lid on top of the slow cooker. Turn on high for 6-8 hours.

    What to serve with canned baked beans

    • Hot dogs and hamburgers
    • Fresh fruit tossed in this easy fruit salad dressing
    • Twice baked potato casserole
    • Stovetop Mac and Cheese or the BEST Baked Mac and Cheese

    👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks

    • The flavor in the canned baked beans and bbq sauce contribute to the overall taste, so choose brands that you like.
    • Place a piece of foil or cookie sheet under the skillet to catch any overflow.
    • The bacon will not continue to get crispy once it is stirred into the canned beans, so be sure to get it as crispy as you like it while it’s in the skillet.
    Upclose baked beans in cast iron skillet with pieces of bacon showing.
    Cooking in cast iron produces the thick and rich syrup that envelopes the beans. Delicious!

    📖 Other great bbq and picnic recipes

    • Grilled honey mustard chicken breasts - No need to marinade chicken when you have this recipe.
    • Summer fruit salad with honey lime dressing - The perfect balance of sweet and tangy!
    • Pan roasted corn (using frozen corn) - A simple way to caramelize corn kernels!
    • Raspberry jam bars in 9x13 pan - A burst of sweet raspberry flavor for your taste buds.
    • Golden Grahams Rice Krispie Treats - A great way to dress up your childhood favorite!

    👋🏻 Connect with us!

    If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food!

    📋 Recipe

    Spoon in thick syrupy canned beans that are doctored up with bacon and aromatics for homemade flavor.

    Thick & Rich Canned Baked Beans

    Want to know how to make canned baked beans taste homemade? These Canned Baked Beans take store-bought canned beans and dress them up with bacon and other flavorings for that “from scratch” taste! Bake in a cast iron skillet or dutch oven for a thick and rich side dish perfect for all your summer bbqs and picnics.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 16 -20
    Calories: 68kcal
    Author: Borrowed Bites

    Equipment

    • 1 cast iron skillet

    Ingredients

    • 6 bacon slices diced
    • 3 tablespoon garlic cloves minced
    • 1 jalapeno diced
    • 1 onion, yellow or sweet diced
    • 2 bell peppers diced
    • 4 28-ounce baked beans ¼ of the liquid drained off
    • ½ cup yellow mustard may substitute with spice brown mustard
    • ⅓ cup barbeque sauce
    • ¼ cup ketchup
    • 1 tablespoon molasses (optional)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°
    • In a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat cook bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon. Drain all but 2-3 tablespoon of bacon grease.
      6 bacon slices
    • Add onion, peppers, garlic, and jalapeno and cook for 4-5 minutes, until tender.
      3 tablespoon garlic cloves, 1 onion, yellow or sweet, 2 bell peppers, 1 jalapeno
    • Add remaining ingredients except for 1 can of beans. Stir well. Then add in the last can and stir carefully. The pan will be very full.
      4 28-ounce baked beans, ½ cup yellow mustard, ⅓ cup barbeque sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon molasses
    • Place cookie sheet or large piece of tin foil on the oven rack just underneath skillet, then carefully place skillet in the oven. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until thick and bubbly.
    • We love comments! Please come back and leave us one after you’ve tried this recipe.

    Notes

    Tips & Tricks
    • The flavor in the canned baked beans and bbq sauce contribute to the overall taste so choose brands that you like.
    • Place a piece of foil or cookie sheet under the skillet to catch any overflow.
    • The bacon will not continue to get crispy once it is stirred into the canned beans, so be sure to get it as crispy as you like it while it’s in the skillet.
    Notes:
    This makes a huge amount! Feel free to halve the recipe and cook in a 8-inch cast iron skillet or small dutch oven.
    If making in a dutch oven, leave it uncovered while baking. That will allow the beans to thicken.
    Slow cooker option:
    This recipe can be cooked in a crockpot, but they may not turn out as thick and rich. Prepare steps 2 and 3 as directed. Mix together all ingredients in a slow cooker. To keep the beans from getting too liquidy place a towel in between the slow cooker and the lid. Cook on high for 4-5 hours. 

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 241mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 517IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

    All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating or pin it for later!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kathryn says

      May 27, 2022 at 9:20 am

      Can this recipe be made in the disposable aluminum pans? Thank you.

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        May 27, 2022 at 7:45 pm

        Absolutely! Steps 2 and 3 must be done in a skillet, but after that everything can be combined into the disposable pans. Follow the recipe as written after that. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

        Reply

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