We’re not kidding: These baked beans with bacon are easy-peasy and the perfect dish to bring to a potluck or gathering. With only seven ingredients, this dish can be thrown together in no time—just 15 minutes of prep and an hour in the oven.
This recipe for baked beans with bacon made it into our collection of the best baked beans recipes. By using canned pork and beans, most of the work is already done for you, with the spices (such as paprika, onion extract and natural smoke flavoring) and tomato flavor (either sauce or paste) already folded into each can. Enjoy this protein-rich recipe as a side to fluffy cornbread or paired with meats hot off the grill at a summer cookout.
Ingredients for Baked Beans with Bacon
- Pork and beans: Sold at grocery stores, these cans are filled with white beans and cooked pork, plus tomato flavor and spices.
- Brown sugar: While brown sugar is a definite sweetener when baking, adding it to this recipe won’t cause it to taste like dessert. Opting for dark brown sugar over light adds even richer flavors and, when baked, becomes molasses-like.
- Sliced bacon: You can use pork or turkey bacon, your choice—though turkey is the leaner option.
- Onion: Yellow onions are best because they retain flavor and texture better than white onions while cooking at high heat.
- Cola: This doesn’t have to be a name-brand soda; store-brand cola will do just fine. What it does in the recipe is further sweeten the baked beans with bacon.
- Ketchup: Adding ketchup to baked beans with bacon adds sweetness and tomato flavor.
- Ground mustard: You’ll find this in the spice section at your grocery store. It’s derived from the seeds of a mustard plant—so don’t confuse it with the condiment mustard stored in your fridge!
Directions
Step 1: Cook the bacon
Before you start, preheat your oven to 325°F. Slice the bacon, then fry it in a large skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat in a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil until it’s done (it should be slightly crispy). Once it’s cooled slightly, crumble it and set it aside.
Editor’s Tip: Cooking bacon in a cast-iron skillet allows for the best texture possible and is totally doable with small batches, such as for this recipe.
Step 2: Chop and saute the onion
Chop the onion into small pieces. In a large skillet, add a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil and the chopped onions. Saute the onion till it’s tender and somewhat translucent. Remove it from the skillet and set aside.
Step 3: Combine the ingredients
In a large bowl, mix the pork and beans, brown sugar, bacon, onion, cola, ketchup and mustard.
Editor’s Tip: Your brown sugar should be packed tightly before adding it to the recipe. The easiest way to do this is to dump 1-1/2 cups of brown sugar into a measuring cup, then take the back of a spoon and press the surface down until the brown sugar is packed.
Step 4: Bake the beans
Grease a 3-quart baking dish with butter or oil. Transfer your ingredients into the dish and bake, uncovered, for 75 to 90 minutes, or until the top is bubbly.
Recipe Variations
- Swap the bacon with ground beef: If you already have ground beef in the fridge, there’s no reason you can’t substitute that for the bacon, turning this recipe into baked beans with ground beef. Use similar amounts for the beef as you would for the bacon.
- Go whole hog on the bacon: Get a little extra with your baked beans with bacon recipe by topping it with even more bacon: Strips of partially cooked bacon will cook delightfully crispy.
How to Store Baked Beans with Bacon
If you have leftovers, don’t worry: You can store this recipe in the fridge, in a covered container. Cooked bacon can last for four to five days, and that includes this recipe with baked beans and pork.
How long do baked beans with bacon last in the fridge?
Baked beans typically last from three to five days in the fridge. If you’d like to keep your homemade baked beans longer, you can also freeze cooked baked beans for up to six months in an airtight container.
Can you freeze baked beans with bacon?
Yes, you can freeze your baked beans with bacon. Once the dish has cooled, move the recipe to a resealable plastic bag or other container with a lid that snaps shut. You should reheat and enjoy the dish within six months.
Baked Beans with Bacon Tips
Can I make the baked beans with bacon recipe ahead of time?
To make it even easier to enjoy this recipe, prepare it ahead of time, then refrigerate, covered, for three to four days before moving it to a slow cooker.
What should I serve with baked beans with bacon?
Baked beans go well with grilled meats like grilled pork tenderloins or handhelds like classic cheeseburgers or pulled pork sandwiches.
What beans are used in baked beans with bacon?
Typically, pea beans, otherwise known as navy beans, are used for homemade baked bean recipes. The name “navy beans” was coined after they became a common U.S. Navy dish due to their long shelf life and high nutritional value. Great northern beans are another solid substitute.
