These Baked Beans Disappear at Every Cookout (2024)

Table of Contents
Ingredients Directions FAQs

Whoa, Nelly. I never knew baked beans could be this good. I never knew baked beans could be improved upon. I never knew baked beans could be such a triumph, such a prayer, such a song.

But they can. I now know they can.

Pam Anderson—I sometimes like to call her "Pamanderson" just to conserve energy—whipped up some baked beans to go with her fall-off-the-boneslow cooker glazed ribs and Caesar salad once.

The beans? They were all that and a bag of doughnuts. And I live in one of the Southern states. I know about baked beans. I know about doughnuts, too. But that's another story for another time. Bring these to a cookout once, and you'll be asked to bring them again and again.

What makes these the best baked beans ever?

First and foremost, these baked beans are easy to make. They start with three big ol' cans of pork and beans, but it's the other ingredients you add that transforms them! That brings me to my next point: the other stuff. This recipe is filled with tangy barbecue sauce, sweet brown sugar, mustard for a kick, green pepper, onion, and the best addition of all: bacon. The beans are topped with strips of partially-cooked bacon, and baked low and slow until the bacon gets a little crispy and the beans thicken. The result is baked beans that are smoky, sweet, tangy, and absolutely unforgettable! You'll never make them any other way.

What kind of bacon is best for baked beans?

Any strips of bacon will work (I say strips because Canadian bacon will NOT work),butthick-cut bacon is best for these beans. If you can find the peppered thick-cut bacon at your grocery store, that's even better!

Can baked beans be made ahead of time?

In this recipe,baked beans can be made the night before. Just wait to add bacon toppingfor when you're ready to bake the beans—that way, the bacon turns out nice and crispy!

How long do baked beans last in the fridge?

Covered, the beans will last for two to three days in the refrigerator. You can pop the whole dish back in the oven to reheat it, or nuke smaller portions in the microwave.

What pairs well with baked beans?

Baked beans are one of the best BBQ recipes!Make them for all the patriotic holidays this summer alongsidegrilled ribs, BBQ chicken, andburgers. Add a few other classic BBQ sidesand you're ready forthe cookout.

This Quick Southern-Style Baked Beans recipe is by Pam Anderson.

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Yields:
18
Prep Time:
25 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs
Total Time:
2 hrs 25 mins

Ingredients

Directions

    1. Step1Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325°F.
    2. Step2Fry the bacon in large, deep sauté pan until the bacon has partially cooked and released about 1/4 cup of drippings. Remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels.
    3. Step3Add the onion and pepper to drippings in the pan and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes.
    4. Step4Add the beans and remaining ingredients to the pan; bring to a simmer. (If the pan is not large enough, add the beans and heat to a simmer then transfer to a large bowl and stir in the remaining ingredients).
    5. Step5Pour the flavored beans into a greased 13-by-9-inch (or similar size) ovenproof pan. Top with bacon, then bake until the beans are bubbly and the sauce is the consistency of pancake syrup, about 2 hours. Let stand to thicken slightly and serve.

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Start with eight slices of bacon. The thick stuff is great. The thick, peppered stuff is even better.

Cut the slices in half, then fry them on medium-low heat. You don’t want to brown or crisp the bacon at all; the point is only to render the fat and get the bacon pieces ready to bake up and turn brown in the oven.

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Remove the bacon pieces once the fat is rendered, and in the name of all that is good and right, do NOT pour out the grease and clean the skillet! If you do, you’ll regret it for the rest of your days.

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Next, dice up an onion…

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And a green bell pepper.

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First cut it into strips…

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Then dice it right up.

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Next, measure 3/4 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce.

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Pour it into a bowl…

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And throw in 1/2 cup brown sugar.

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Add 1/4 cup distilled white or apple cider vinegar.

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Finally, add a couple of tablespoons Dijon mustard and mix the whole thing together.

Yummy!

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Now. Back to the skillet. You can pour off a little of the excess grease, but leave some in there for good measure.

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Put the skillet over medium heat, then throw in the onions and green peppers.

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Stir ’em around and cook ’em for a few minutes, or until tender.

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Then, pour in three cans of good ol’ pork ‘n beans. They’re the best beans for making baked beans. Everyone who’s anyone knows that!

I’ve made baked beans from scratch before—soaked the navy beans and everything. They just weren’t as good as the ones made with pork ‘n beans.

Does that make me a bad person?

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Stir it together, then pour in the barbecue sauce/brown sugar mixture.

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Bring this all to a simmer. And I think if you like things spicy, you could easily add in some chopped fresh jalapeño to the onion/green pepper mixture. That would give these some serious kick.

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Then pour it into a large casserole pan.

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Finally, put the half-cooked bacon slices all over the top. Since the fat has already been rendered from these, they’re going to cook up really nicely in the oven… and there won’t be that big layer of grease standing on top of the beans.

Not that I’ve ever minded that big layer of grease.

I’ve never minded bacon grease in my life.

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Now, here’s the key: bake this low and slow—325 degrees for two hours. You want the beans to be very, very cooked, the bacon very, very brown, and no soupiness to the dish whatsoever.

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You won't believe how delicious these are.

Labor Day: make these baked beans! I'm a serious baked bean fan, and I couldn’t get enough of these. They were absolutely perfect.

Thank you, Pamanderson. You cook reeeeel goooood. Has anyone ever told you that?

Enjoy, everyone!

These Baked Beans Disappear at Every Cookout (2024)

FAQs

What is the baked bean challenge? ›

Hold your baked bean cans or other, in each hand. Extend your arms to the sides to form a straight line between your hands, elbows and shoulders. Return arms to your sides and then raise them hands as high as you can above your head. Repeat five times gradually increasing the pace you do these movements.

What is the baked bean trend? ›

"Beaning" is a TikTok trend that saw teens emptying cans of baked beans onto people's doorways. Clips circulated on the video sharing giant under the hashtag #beanbandits showing youths smearing the tinned food onto driveways, doorsteps, and cars.

Which country eats the most baked beans? ›

It's Really No Surprise That Britain Is The Country That Eats The Most Baked Beans.

Can you eat expired canned baked beans? ›

Is it safe to eat canned foods past their "expiration" date? While canned goods past their "best-by" date may not taste optimal, there's no real health risk in consuming canned goods as long as they remain in good condition.

Why do cowboys eat baked beans? ›

When moving herds of cattle through the plains, there weren't grocery stores or restaurants to stop in for a meal. On the trail, cowboys ate mostly dried meats — think beef jerky — and lots of beans. Full of protein and easy to transport without refrigeration, it's easy to see why camp cooks made dried beans a staple.

What is the significance of baked bean? ›

The baked beans we enjoy today are a direct descendent from an English bean-and-bacon pottage dish originally from the middle ages. 17th century Puritans favored a dish that they could set to cook on Saturday and consume on Sunday, saving them from labor on the Sabbath.

Which state is known as the baked Bean State? ›

Nickname: The Bay State (or the Old Bay State) is the most commonly used nickname for Massachusetts. Other nicknames include the Old Colony State, the Puritan State, and the Baked Bean State.

What is the trivia about baked beans? ›

A can of Heinz baked beanz is eaten every 14 seconds - that's 420 million cans a year. The recipe is so valuable and secret that only four Heinz employees are allowed to know it at any one time. To make their baked beanz Heinz uses enough tomatoes to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every day.

Why do Brits eat so many baked beans? ›

Baked beans played a crucial role in helping the British population cope with meat shortages by providing an alternative source of protein. The widespread availability of canning factories made it easier to produce and distribute baked beans as convenient and emergency-ready food.

What city is known for baked beans? ›

Place of Origin

If someone offers you Boston baked beans, you'll most likely receive a sweet-savory blend of navy beans that have been slow-cooked in molasses, black pepper, and salt pork. That classic style has been synonymous with the city known as “Beantown” for centuries.

What state eats the most beans? ›

About 39 percent of all cooked dry beans are consumed in the Southern States, with another 38 percent consumed in the Western States (figure A-4). California, Texas, and Florida are the three most populous States in these two regions.

Are baked beans healthy? ›

Baked beans are high in protein, fiber, other nutrients, and beneficial plant compounds. They may improve gut health and cholesterol levels. Canned varieties are convenient but often high in added sugars, salt, additives, and BPA contaminants. Your healthiest option is to make them from scratch using dried beans.

Can you eat 10 year old canned beans? ›

Good news: Shelf-stable canned goods are safe more or less indefinitely, lasting up to five years or more according to the USDA. It's typically safe to eat food that's past its expiration date, with a few exceptions.

Can dogs eat baked beans? ›

The short answer is no, your dog shouldn't eat baked beans. Although the beans themselves aren't toxic, the sauce they come in can contain ingredients which may harmful, so it's not a good idea to feed your dog baked beans in tomato sauce or any other flavours.

What food lasts the longest? ›

Whole grains and legumes: Staples such as rice, quinoa, beans, and lentils, when stored in a cool, dry environment, can boast shelf lives that span several years. Honey: This sweet nectar, thanks to its natural composition, can remain consumable indefinitely when stored in a sealed container.

How does the bean diet work? ›

On the Bean Protocol™

Basically, what's happening in the body is: soluble fiber binds to toxin-carrying bile and escorts it out of the body, allowing for new, healthy bile to start flowing. Bile is made by the liver and helps with detoxification by binding to excess hormones and other fat-soluble toxins.

What happened to friends baked beans? ›

The brand name of Friends' Beans still exists today, although it has been sold many times over. The Friend brothers bought the farm in 1920 to serve as a piggery. They collected stale baked goods from their bakeries and took them to the farm where they were fed to pigs.

How do you eat more beans when you don't like them? ›

So, how do we get these magical beans into those who don't like them?
  1. Hummus. A lot of kids seem to like blended beans more than whole beans. ...
  2. Bean Quesadilla. ...
  3. Make nachos with refried beans. ...
  4. Rice and Bean Taquitos. ...
  5. Salsa Verde Soup. ...
  6. Black Bean Burgers. ...
  7. Legume Pasta is an easy way to eat beans. ...
  8. Bean Energy Balls.
Feb 22, 2024

Why can t you find grandma brown baked beans? ›

Major stores sold them, and her name and product became the stuff of legends. But what happened! Grandma Brown's Baked Beans have disappeared from the store shelves, her factory in Mexico, NY is closed, and there are no plans to bring the food item back. And the public is not a bit happy about that!

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