Easy Baked Beans (using canned beans)

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Want to know how to make canned baked beans taste homemade? These Easy Baked Beans take 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 beans and other flavorings into a thick syrupy side dish reminiscent of homemade in a fraction of the time.

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🥇 Why it’s great!
🍎 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a crowd
🙋 Questions and Answers
👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks
📖 Other great bbq and picnic recipes
👋 Connect with us!
📋 Recipe

It’s so easy to make canned baked beans taste homemade.

Add in some cooked bacon
Add in aromatic vegetables like bell peppers, jalapenos, 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 dried 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.

🍎 Ingredients

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

Baked Beans: Any brand of canned baked beans can be used in this recipe.
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 can be substituted.
Barbeque sauce: Any brand and flavor of bbq sauce will work in this recipe. Choose the one you like best.
Molasses: 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.

🔪 Instructions

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

Start by cooking the diced bacon over medium heat in the cast iron skillet 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 canned beans. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon leaving a little bit of bacon grease for flavor.

Add in all the vegetables 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! It does all 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.

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 Easy Baked Beans were made for serving a crowd. They are absolutely perfect for potlucks, BBQ’s, and picnics. Each recipe requires a 12-inch cast iron skillet. If doubling, use 2 skillets or use a large dutch oven. If desired they can be made in a slow cooker although they won’t be quite as thick and rich. See the instructions in the recipe card.

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 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.

👨🏼‍🍳 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

👋 Connect with us!

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below 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!