Mom's Amazing Baked Beans | The Best Baked Beans Recipe Ever (2024)

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These AmazingBaked Beans are thick, hearty and perfectly balanced between sweet and savory! Just like your mother made them! They’re the perfect side dish for summer potlucks and outdoor BBQs.

Mom's Amazing Baked Beans | The Best Baked Beans Recipe Ever (1)

Table of Contents

  • The BEST Baked Beans Recipe Ever
  • Ingredients for Mom’s Amazing Baked Beans
  • Beans to Use for the Best Baked Beans
  • Get the Recipe

The BEST Baked Beans Recipe Ever

So it might surprise you to know that I actually grew up cooking more than baking. If I baked, it was rare and usually from a box or at Christmas time. Instead, all the baking I do these days grew from my gigantic sweet tooth and a love creative things. But that creative part of me in the kitchen actually began as a kid cooking with my mom. She was rarely one to follow a particular recipe. She often changes things to make them her own and to this day never uses measuring cups or measuring spoons (much to my dismay).

When it came time to make these baked beans and share an actual recipe, we both laughed about how I would have to experiment with measured amounts of ingredients because she never actually measures. So after playing around with it to be sure it was right, I am now sharing her amazing baked bean recipe – WITH actual measurements!

These baked beans truly are amazing and the best you’ll ever have! They were a staple for us growing up and a recipe she often brought to potlucks and BBQs – and still does. These beans are such a favorite of mine, that I rarely get baked beans when out anywhere because they never measure up to this awesome semi-homemade version.

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Ingredients for Mom’s Amazing Baked Beans

So lets talk a little about what makes these beans special. Ketchup and mustard are two ingredients that we always start with. I remember making these in the past for people and having them look at me like I have three horns when they see me add ketchup and mustard to beans. But trust me – it’s delicious!

From there, add some brown sugar and onion. Both are staples in delicious baked beans. Naturally I’m a fan of the sweetness the brown sugar adds. And there’s no doubt that onion adds amazing flavor to savory dishes.

And then there’s the meat that makes these baked beans so hearty. This recipe uses both bacon and ground beef, but you could certainly adjust that if you want it. Adding ground beef is a more recent addition in our family. Growing up we often had them with just bacon and they are excellent that way as well. As for the bacon itself, you can most certainly cook your own bacon, but bacon bits were quite common in our home and is most often what I reach for when baking these baked beans. No shame here!

Finally, you had a bit of Worcestershire sauce, a touch of soy sauce and a bit of hot sauce.

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Pour the beans into a casserole dish and bake them to your liking! I prefer my beans a little thicker, but you could certainly cook them for a little less time and have them at a thinner consistency. Just keep an eye on them as they bake and remember that they will thicken as they cool, so take them out of the oven a little before you think they will be thick enough.

Beans to Use for the Best Baked Beans

These are semi-homemade baked beans, so they start with baked beans from a can. We tend to use Bushes Baked Beans and always love them, but feel free to experiment with other kinds as well.

When your beans are ready, serve ’em warm! These beans are easy to prepare and always a hit! They have always been a classic for us and I have no doubt they will be a classic for you once you give them a try.

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More side dishes to enjoy

Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Three Potato Salad
Classic Green Bean Casserole
Pineapple Pasta Salad
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Strawberry Feta Balsamic Pasta Salad
White Beans with Tomato and Garlic

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Recipe

Mom’s Amazing Baked Beans

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay Conchar
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

These AmazingBaked Beans are thick, hearty and perfectly balanced between sweet and savory! Just like your mother made them! They’re the perfect side dish for summer potlucks and outdoor BBQs.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 lb ground beef, optional
  • Two 16 oz cans baked beans
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion (1/2 small onion)
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup yellow mustard
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 45 tbsp crumbled cooked bacon (6 to 8 slices bacon)
  • Dash of hot sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and have a 9×13 inch baking dish ready.
  2. Add the ground beef to a large pan and cook until browned and cooked through. Drain the meat mixture.
  3. Combine the beef with the baked beans, onion, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar and all other ingredients in your baking dish and spread evenly.
  4. Cover the beans with aluminum foil and bake for 25-35 minutes, then remove the foil and cool for another 5-10 minutes. I prefer them thicker and chunkier, so I bake them on the longer side. If you prefer them a little less thick, cook them less. Keep in mind that they’ll thicken as they cool. Serve warm.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 216
  • Sugar: 9.7 g
  • Sodium: 615.1 mg
  • Fat: 10.9 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16 g
  • Protein: 14.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 39.3 mg

Categories

  • Easter
  • Holidays
  • July 4th
  • Recipes
  • Side Dishes
Mom's Amazing Baked Beans | The Best Baked Beans Recipe Ever (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to soft baked beans? ›

soak them about 20 hours. Depending on how much water they soak up you may add more halfway through - if you set them soaking in the early evening, check them in the morning. drain, rinse, and then boil for about two hours, checking to see if they are soft.

What can I add to canned baked beans to make them better? ›

Stir together baked beans, onion, syrup, brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard in a large bowl. Pour into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Lay bacon slices across the top. Bake in the preheated oven until the bacon is browned and the beans have thickened, 35 to 40 minutes.

How many cans of baked beans do I need for 100 people? ›

Baked Beans (Canned)
INGREDIENTMEASURE (FOR 100 SERVINGS)
Beans, Baked, Vegetarian, Low Sodium, #10 Can, #28064 #10 cans + 6 1/2 cups
Pan Release Spray, Vegetable Oil, #251410 second spray
Onions, Chopped, Dehydrated, #27382 cups
Mustard, Powder, Dry, #27121/4 cup
5 more rows
Mar 8, 2024

Should baked beans be served warm or cold? ›

Canned baked beans are used as a convenience food; most are made from haricot beans in sauce. They may be eaten hot or cold, and straight from the can, as they are fully cooked.

Why put mustard in baked beans? ›

Onion: a diced onion adds savory spice to the baked bean mixture. Brown sugar: brown sugar adds sweetness and depth of flavor thanks to the molasses inside. Steak sauce and yellow mustard: steak sauce and mustard add savory flavor and tang to balance out the sweetness of the pineapple and brown sugar.

How do you cook beans and make it soft quickly? ›

Hot soaking is the preferred method since it reduces cooking time, helps dissolve some of the gas-causing substances in beans, and most consistently produces tender beans. Quick Soak: This is the fastest method. In a large pot, add 6 cups of water for each pound (2 cups) of dry beans.

How to make canned beans taste like restaurant? ›

I like to sprinkle in some taco seasoning, but you could add whatever spices you like — garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder are all good calls. Then, you mash the beans up directly in the pan and add just a little bit of vinegar at the end to really make the beans sing.

How can I make my beans more flavorful? ›

Those aromatics in the pot will revolutionize the beans' final flavor. The aromatics I tend to use are onions, carrots, garlic, and celery, and then heartier, woodsy herbs, like rosemary, sage, and thyme, which marry beautifully with the earthy-sweet flavor of beans.

What makes Bush's baked beans so good? ›

Our Homestyle Baked Beans are deliciously tomato-based—which makes them a bit tangier than the original—with brown sugar, bold spices and a specially cured bacon.

What to feed 100 people? ›

Popular food options for catering to 100 people include buffet-style meals such as BBQ, pasta dishes, tacos, and salads. You can also consider options like sandwich platters, sushi trays, and a variety of appetizers to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.

How many people does a full pan of baked beans feed? ›

One filled with baked beans will feed 60-70 people yet it will only feed 40 for mac n cheese so it really depends on what you put in them. As a guideline though you can figure a minimum of 25 serving from a half pan and 50 servings from a full.

How many beans to make per person? ›

A portion of uncooked beans typically doubles after cooking (e.g. 2 cups uncooked equals between 4-5 cups of cooked beans). Average serving size is estimated to be 1/4 cup of uncooked beans (56.70 grams) per person (approx. 1/2 cup or 113.40 grams of cooked beans).

Should I drain baked beans before cooking? ›

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish.

Can I eat baked beans straight from the can? ›

Yes, you can eat baked beans straight from the can. I have done so many times. The beans are already cooked.

Which country eats the most baked beans? ›

Despite their American origin, baked beans are not as popular there. In fact, nowhere likes them as much as the UK – British people eat more baked beans than the rest of the world put together. Baked beans get their name because the raw haricot beans are baked in tomato sauce while inside the can.

Why do my baked beans come out hard? ›

You don't say how long you cooked them for, but if they're still tough, they most likely weren't cooked long enough. The older beans are, the longer they take to become tender.

Does adding baking soda help soften beans? ›

The addition of baking soda to the cooking water does two things: It adds sodium ions that weaken the pectin as explained above, and more importantly, an alkaline environment causes the pectin molecules to break down into smaller molecules that greatly weakens the pectin causing the beans to soften much more rapidly.

What softens beans quickly? ›

Use the power of baking soda to get dried beans to soften up faster. Rinse and sort your beans. Place them in pot and cover with water, sprinkle on a tablespoon or so of baking soda and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes.

How long to soak beans to make them soft? ›

Overnight Soaking

To soak beans the traditional way, cover them with water by 2 inches, add 2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt (or 1 tablespoon fine salt) per pound of beans, and let them soak for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Drain them and rinse before using.

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