Get ready to elevate your side dish game with these incredible Baked Beans! This recipe transforms humble canned baked beans into a rich, savory, and wonderfully smoky delight, packed with crispy bacon, sweet onion, bell pepper, and a kick of chipotle. Baked until bubbly and syrupy, they’re the ultimate crowd-pleasing comfort food, perfect for barbecues, potlucks, or any meal needing a hearty, flavorful side.
Why I Love This Recipe
These Baked Beans are an absolute must-have for any gathering, and a true staple in my kitchen. What I love most is how they take a convenient pantry staple (canned baked beans!) and elevate it with so much homemade flavor. The rendered bacon provides a crucial smoky base, while the sweet onion, bell pepper, and garlic build an aromatic foundation. The blend of smoked paprika, chipotle, BBQ sauce, and Dijon mustard creates a complex sweet and savory profile with just the right amount of heat. It’s incredibly easy to make, mostly hands-off in the oven, and the result is always a rich, sticky, and utterly delicious side that disappears fast!
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to create these delicious Baked Beans:
- 2 slices bacon, diced
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced (any color, green or red works well)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 TO 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce (your favorite brand)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 (22 ounce) cans baked beans (like Bush’s Grillin’ Beans, or your favorite brand)
- 2 slices bacon, for topping (optional)
Swaps and Notes
- Bacon (Diced): Use regular or thick-cut bacon for the best flavor. Turkey bacon can be used for a lighter option, but you may need to add a bit of olive oil for sautéing the vegetables.
- Sweet Onion: Adds sweetness and depth when cooked down. Yellow onion can also be used.
- Bell Pepper: Green bell pepper offers a classic savory flavor, while red, yellow, or orange will add more sweetness.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic provides the best aromatic flavor.
- Smoked Paprika: Crucial for that smoky flavor. Do not substitute with regular paprika.
- Chipotle Chili Powder: Provides a smoky heat. Adjust the amount (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) to your preferred spice level. Omit for no heat.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds a tangy brightness that cuts through the richness and balances sweetness.
- BBQ Sauce & Ketchup: Use your favorite brands. These contribute to the classic sweet and tangy baked bean flavor.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a subtle sharp tang that enhances the overall flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Packed brown sugar adds sweetness and helps create that caramelized, syrupy consistency.
- Baked Beans: The recipe suggests Bush’s Grillin’ Beans, which are pre-flavored. If using plain canned baked beans, you might want to increase the seasonings slightly. Do not drain them.
- Bacon for Topping (Optional): Adds extra crispy texture and visual appeal.
Instructions
Let’s get these delicious Baked Beans simmering and baking!
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Cook Bacon & Aromatics (Skillet): Heat a large skillet (one that is oven-safe, if you prefer not to transfer the beans to a separate dish) over medium-low heat. Add the 2 slices of diced bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is fully browned and crisp, and most of its fat is rendered. Remove the crispy bacon bits with a slotted spoon and set them aside on a paper towel-lined plate for garnish. Leave about 1-2 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat in the skillet.
- Stir the diced sweet onion, diced bell pepper, and minced 2 garlic cloves into the skillet with the bacon fat. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, or until everything softens and the onion becomes translucent.
- Add Spices & Liquids: Stir in the 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of chipotle chili powder (adjust to taste), 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, to bloom the spices and enhance their flavor.
- Stir in the 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce, 2 tablespoons of ketchup, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar until all combined into a cohesive sauce base.
- Combine with Beans & Simmer: Stir in the 2 (22 ounce) cans of baked beans directly from the can (do not drain!). Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Once it starts boiling, turn off the heat.
- I suggest tasting the beans here. Adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or heat (more chipotle chili powder) if desired. If you’d like, you can lay the 2 optional slices of bacon on top of the beans at this point; they will get crispy as the beans bake.
- Bake: Place the skillet (or transfer the entire mixture to an oven-safe baking dish if your skillet isn’t oven-safe) in the preheated oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the beans are bubbly around the edges and the sauce has thickened to a rich, syrupy consistency. The bacon strips on top (if used) should be crispy.
- Serve: Remove the baked beans from the oven and let them cool slightly for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to thicken further. Garnish with the reserved crispy diced bacon before serving.
Tips for Success
- Render Bacon Fat: The rendered bacon fat is crucial for a smoky flavor base. Don’t drain it all!
- Don’t Drain Canned Beans: The liquid in the canned baked beans is part of the recipe and helps create the sauce.
- Taste and Adjust Seasoning: With so many flavorful ingredients (bacon, BBQ sauce, canned beans), it’s important to taste the beans before baking and adjust salt, sweetness, or heat as needed.
- Bake Until Bubbly & Syrupy: This indicates the sauce has thickened and the flavors have melded.
- Optional Bacon Topping: If using the extra bacon strips on top, they will crisp up beautifully in the oven, adding another layer of texture and flavor.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
These Baked Beans are the ultimate versatile side dish, perfect for almost any hearty meal:
- BBQ & Grilling: The quintessential side for grilled chicken, ribs, pulled pork, or hot dogs.
- Picnics & Potlucks: A crowd-pleaser that travels well (keep warm in a slow cooker or insulated carrier).
- Burgers & Sandwiches: A classic accompaniment to any burger (like our Banh Mi Smash Burgers) or sandwich.
- Cornbread: A slice of warm cornbread (like our Southern-Style Honey Butter Cornbread Poppers) is perfect for soaking up the sauce.
- For other incredibly flavorful Southern comfort foods, you might also love our Southern Squash Casserole or Shrimp & Grits w/Bacon.
Storage and Leftover Tips
Baked Beans are fantastic as leftovers, often tasting even better the next day as the flavors deepen!
- Refrigeration: Store any cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. The sauce will thicken considerably.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through. For larger amounts, you can reheat in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, adding a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce if it’s too thick.
- Freezing: Baked beans freeze well. Cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Recipes You Will Love
If you loved the smoky, savory, and comforting nature of these Baked Beans, you’ll definitely want to explore some of our other fantastic hearty and flavorful recipes:
- For another incredibly flavorful skillet meal packed with Southern charm, try This Tomato Skillet with Okra and Sausage Is My Favorite Quick Dinner Packed with Southern Flavor.
- If you’re a fan of comforting, hearty bowls, our This Cajun Chicken Sausage Gumbo Is My Favorite Bowl of Southern Comfort is a must-try.
- And for a complete one-pan chicken and sausage meal with rice, don’t miss our One-Pan Cajun Chicken, Sausage, and Rice Recipe!
- Finally, for a hearty and satisfying stew, check out our Texas Cowboy Stew for another delicious Southwestern-inspired meal.
Final Thoughts
These Baked Beans are a brilliant solution for bringing true comfort, incredible flavor, and a genuine taste of classic American barbecue to your table. They’re easy to make, packed with smoky, sweet, and savory goodness, and guaranteed to be a hit at any gathering.
Give this recipe a try and let the delicious aromas fill your kitchen! What’s your favorite BBQ side dish? Share your ideas in the comments below! And for more amazing, easy-to-follow recipes that bring joy to your kitchen, be sure to visit Chefmaniac.com. Happy cooking!
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