↑

Good Dinner Mom

Sharing Love through Good Food

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • The Main Dish
      • Chicken & Poultry
      • Beef & Meat
      • Slow Cooked Meals
      • Meatless Main Dish
      • Fish & Seafood
      • Soups, Stews & Chili
      • One Pot Meals
      • Breakfasts & Brunch
      • Eggs
    • Fresh from the Bakery
      • Bakery
      • Bread & Biscuits
      • Cakes
      • Cheesecake
      • Chocolate
      • Cookies, Bars & Brownies
      • Fruit Desserts
      • Jams, Jellies & Preserves
      • Muffins & Pastries
      • Pastries & Pie
      • Tarts
    • On The Side
      • Salads & Salad Dressings
      • Side Dishes
    • Hors d’oeuvres & Party Fare
      • Appetizers
      • Condiments, Dips & Sauces
      • Snacks
    • Frozen Treats, Drinks & Smoothies
      • Beverages & Smoothies
      • Frozen Treats
    • Even More Healthy
      • Gluten Free
      • Quinoa
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
    • Holiday Recipes
    • 30 Minutes or Less
    • Cuisines
      • Asian
      • Italian
      • Mediterranean
      • Mexican
  • Shop
  • About
    • About Good Dinner Mom
    • Where I Live
    • Backyard Chickens
    • Contact

Good dinner recipeswhen you subscribe for recipes

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.
  • The Main Dish
  • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Fresh from the Bakery
  • Vegetarian
  • Shop

My Best Baked Beans

24 Comments

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

These are my best baked beans. Simple yet powerful ingredients and the perfect trio of beans. Less bacon than most recipes, but you won’t miss it. Truly.

Best Baked Beans on white plate with burger fixings on side, tomatoes, mustard, onions, jalapeno

Everyone needs a “best” baked bean recipe in their repertoire. You know, the beans that disappear before anything else at the barbecue because everyone wants seconds. The “Who made the beans?” beans, the “I must have your recipe for the beans!” beans. These are my BEST baked beans and they’re easy. You already have most of the ingredients on-hand. In fact, you might be skeptical that I might not know good beans because the ingredients are so common, the recipe doesn’t call for an entire pound of bacon, and the ingredient list is not 30 items long. Trust me, these beans have been tested over many years and have been given the “best” label by throngs of testers.

My best baked beans uses three different types of beans; pinto beans, red beans and black beans. I add less bacon than most recipes because the beans are king. But don’t worry, this recipe will not be lacking in deep flavor. The process starts on the stove with a few slices of bacon (not thick-sliced baon. See note) and a chopped onion that saute’ together until the bacon is crisp and the onion starts to brown. Next, just the right amount of brown sugar, tomato sauce, horse-radish, Dijon, Worcestershire, hot sauce (this will not add much heat so don’t skip it) and salt and pepper all get stirred in.

This simmers just until the sugar has completely dissolved. simmering sauce in a pan with a wooden spoon

 

Then the beans and seasonings all get baked in a 9 x 13-inch dish, low and slow. Baked Beans in a glass baking dish before baked

When the beans come out, they appear to be too dry or even over-cooked. But this is the look you want. As soon as you give them a stir they look delicious and irresistible. Baked Beans in a glass baking dish after baked

And irresistible they are. I would double or even triple the recipe for a large crowd because they’re always popular. The longer you bake them, especially when doubled, the better the flavor. So, here are my best baked beans. I hope they become your best as well.

Finally, a word of caution. I would NOT add cheese to these beans. Many people like cheese in their baked beans. Don’t do it with this recipe, you’ll be disappointed. The cheese overpowers and dulls the individual spices and Worcestershire smokiness. Not to mention that this is a great dish for people who prefer no dairy or can’t tolerate it. Baked Beans on a white plate serve with a burger

Note: The reason I would advise against using thick-sliced bacon is the bacon is going to soften back up a bit during baking, no matter how crispy you cooked it on the stove. You don’t want thick slabs of soggy bacon in your finished beans. I have found that Bar S bacon is a good option.

Pin
Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

My Best Baked Beans

The ingredients in my best baked bean recipe are simple and you already have most of them on hand. Great slow-baked flavor through and through. Use your own combination of beans, if you like. You can also add more or less bacon depending on your preference.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 373
Author Good Dinner Mom

Ingredients 

  • 4 slices bacon, cut into ½ inch pieces (Not thick bacon, trust me)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 - 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon horseradish
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, or yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce, Frank's Wing Style is great, not too hot
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1- 28 oz. can pinto beans, drained
  • 1- 15 oz. can red beans, drained
  • 1- 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed

Cook's Note:

  • Dry beans, Tastier than canned and prettier but require advanced prep. If you prefer using dried beans, soak your beans the night before. I would use 50% pinto beans, 25% each of red and black beans. Soak enough beans to end up with 5-6 cups of beans.

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350F degrees and place oven rack one place above the middle position.
  • Heat a large skillet to medium and add chopped 4 slices bacon. Cook for about 3 minutes.
  • Add 1 chopped onion and stir together with bacon. Continue to cook on medium heat until bacon is well crisped, but not burnt, stirring occasionally. If necessary, lower heat to medium-low.
  • Once bacon is cooked and onions are starting to caramelize, add ¾ cup brown sugar, 8 ounces tomato sauce, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire, 1 teaspoon horseradish, 2 teaspoons mustard, 1 teaspoon hot sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Stir until brown sugar is well dissolved into other ingredients, about 3 minutes.
  • In a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish, add drained 28 ounces pinto, 15 ounces red, and 15 ounce black beans (rinse the black beans since they are harder to drain). Stir bacon/onion mixture into the beans.
  • Bake 25 minutes. Lower heat to 325F degrees and cook at least another 20 minutes, or up to 35 minutes until you're ready to serve.

Notes

  • If you want your bacon crispy rather than tender, cook it separate from the onions and then add to the beans before baking.
Nutrition Facts
My Best Baked Beans
Amount Per Serving
Calories 373 Calories from Fat 18
% Daily Value*
Fat 2g3%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 1mg0%
Sodium 1520mg66%
Potassium 1037mg30%
Carbohydrates 76g25%
Fiber 17g71%
Sugar 32g36%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 191IU4%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Calcium 149mg15%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe from Good Dinner Mom’s kitchen.

You might also like

  • Heirloom beans are flavorful and visually stunning. This recipe for heirloom beans, fresh thyme, cream and olive oil is delicious.
    Heirloom Beans
  • Sichuan Green Beans on a plate
    Sichuan Green Beans
  • Kale Chips
    Baked Kale Chips

Published on July 1, 2014

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. lynnie g says

    June 20, 2022 at 7:01 AM

    5 stars
    I make this recipe all the time now. It’s so easy and it is always a crowd pleaser. Thank you Sally

    Reply
  2. renee parks says

    June 20, 2022 at 6:25 AM

    5 stars
    BEST BAKED BEANS! I used at least that much bacon if not more. I highly recommend this recipe .

    Reply
  3. kristen h says

    May 26, 2022 at 6:23 AM

    5 stars
    When I am asked to bring a side dish to a get-together or dinner this is what comes to mind every time! It does not disappoint and I ALWAYS get rave reviews of how good these are. I even tell the non bean lovers they need to try at least one bite because they’re so good!

    Reply
    • Sally Humeniuk says

      May 26, 2022 at 8:45 AM

      Thanks so much, Kristen! I get the same reaction whenever I make it. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Tara says

    December 11, 2021 at 4:28 PM

    5 stars
    These beans have become a favorite recipe for family gatherings!!! BUT… I would recommend crisping the bacon separately. If you try to finish with the onions, you can’t get the bacon crisp!

    Reply
    • Sally Humeniuk says

      December 12, 2021 at 9:41 AM

      Hi Tara, Thank you for making this recipe become a family favorite! I totally agree that the bacon never crisps when cooked with the onions and your method is a great suggestion. In fact, I’m going to add it to the printable recipe as an option. My family has never cared about the bacon being crisp but some people will definitely want this. Thanks again and I appreciate you taking the time to comment. This means a lot to me.

      Reply
  5. Norma Robbins says

    January 12, 2021 at 8:35 PM

    How long will this take to cook in a tin baking pan?

    Reply
    • Sally Humeniuk says

      January 13, 2021 at 8:36 AM

      Do you mean a disposable aluminum foil tin pan? The beans should take the same amount of time not matter the pan. If it’s a thin pan, maybe check them 15 minutes early.

      Reply
  6. Jaclyn says

    October 12, 2016 at 4:29 PM

    Making these for my daughters birthday!

    Reply
  7. Jarrod Lampier says

    June 5, 2015 at 8:45 AM

    What a fantastic dish! I’ve made them three times so far and am making them again tonight. These beans always look fantastic and are great to bring to pot lucks. I really like using the dried beans for this; makes all the difference in presentation and texture. It’s nice to have another use for my horseradish other than just Bloody Marys.
    I normally play around with the ingredients on most recipes, but this one stands great on it’s own! Thank you so much for sharing this.

    Reply
    • Sally says

      June 5, 2015 at 5:49 PM

      Jarrod, you just made my weekend. Thanks for your kind words and I’m glad you like the recipe. This is one that my family loves as well and I never change it either. Thanks again.

      Reply
  8. Kara says

    October 22, 2014 at 5:55 PM

    Hi there,

    Making these tonight. They’re in the oven & smelling delicious. I can already tell they’ll be amazing! Not to mention, that might me the best BBQ sauce I’ve ever tasted. Hands down.

    Thanks a lot!

    Reply
    • Sally says

      October 22, 2014 at 8:34 PM

      Kara! Wow, I’m honored that you sent me this comment before they’re even finished baking. Thanks so much for the nice words. This made my day.

      Reply
  9. Jackie says

    July 29, 2014 at 10:45 AM

    My husband loves these! And he hates beans.

    Reply
  10. Missy Seare says

    July 8, 2014 at 10:25 AM

    These beans are my hands-down favorite! They are even delicious cold. Will be making these ALOT!!! 🙂

    Reply
  11. Kathy Thuet says

    July 7, 2014 at 10:38 PM

    Ohhhh my goodness!!!! I made these tonight, ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! I made them for a family BBQ and none of us could stop eating them, even though we were full! Soooo very yummy!!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!!

    Reply
  12. Pat Rock says

    July 5, 2014 at 10:27 AM

    I made these for 4th of July party. They were delicious! Got many compliments. I doubled the recipe & added more bacon (1 lb thin cut). I think that made the beans more moist.

    Reply
    • Sally says

      July 5, 2014 at 11:15 AM

      Pat, Thanks for making these and I’m glad they were a success! 😉

      Reply
  13. Louise Garcia says

    July 3, 2014 at 3:55 PM

    I will be making this for the the 4th of July looks amazing!

    Reply
    • Sally says

      July 3, 2014 at 6:56 PM

      That’s great, Louise! Let me know how you like it.

      Reply
  14. Maralyn Woods says

    July 1, 2014 at 1:52 PM

    This sounds like I need it soon. Will wait for the dry bean instructions. Think I will use my large stainless steel everyday pan to cook the bacon, etc. and then just add the beans to that and put it in the oven. I hate washing 9×13 baking dishes. Hate it.

    Reply
    • Sally says

      July 1, 2014 at 2:02 PM

      I’m with you regarding washing out a 9×13 pan. Yes, your idea for the large pan in the oven sounds good. I added simple instructions regarding dry beans at the bottom of the ingredient list. Let me know how they turn out for you.

      Reply
  15. Lynn says

    July 1, 2014 at 8:40 AM

    This sounds delicious… what to you have for those of us who like starting with dry beans?

    Reply
    • Sally says

      July 1, 2014 at 8:44 AM

      Hi Lynn, I meant to add a variation for using dry beans. I will add that information to the bottom shortly.

      Reply
About Sally - Good Dinner Mom.

About Good Dinner Mom

My name is Sally and I love to be in the kitchen. Making fresh, unique dishes is my way of showing love for family and friends and I hope that here you’ll find recipes of both healthy and indulgent dishes that will inspire you to cook more at home while sharing some love of your own. more about me

Find a recipe:

Latest Recipes

The Best Macaroni and Cheese I’ve Ever Had

Jalapeno Peppers with cheese and jalapenos stacked on a plate. A can of beer in background

Jalapeno Popper Pigs In A Blanket

Stuffed Jalapeños

Delicious Spiced Pear Oatmeal Recipe

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Cake

Halloween neapolitan cookies layered on black board. Cookies are purple black and natural with M&M's on them.

Halloween Neapolitan Cookies

  • The Main Dish
  • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Fresh from the Bakery
  • Vegetarian
  • Shop
macaroni and cheese with peas asparagus and basil
The best Chinese Chicken Salad is right here with fresh vegetables, tender chicken and amazing Asian peanut salad dressing. Ready in under 30 minutes.
Oven Baked Chowder
Privacy Policy
Copyright ©2023, Good Dinner Mom. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs