Recipes

The Best Ever Baked Beans Recipe!

If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing dish that truly shines at summer gatherings, look no further! Baked beans are a staple for holidays like Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day.

Today, I’m sharing my mom’s recipe that boasts a rich, sweet, spicy, and smoky flavor. It’s simple, quick, and guaranteed to impress your friends and family.

Let’s dive into the deliciousness!

Ingredients Needed

  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper (any color, preferably red), diced
  • 4 pieces of bacon, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup black strap molasses
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 3 cans baked beans (various brands)

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

Start by dicing half of an onion and one bell pepper. The red bell pepper enhances the color of the dish.

Dicing the onion and bell pepper.

Make sure to include the top and bottom pieces of the bell pepper to avoid waste.

Chopping the bell pepper.

Next, chop up four pieces of bacon. This amount adds the perfect flavor without making the dish too greasy.

Chopping the bacon.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crispy.

Cooking the bacon until crispy.

This step adds a delicious base flavor to the baked beans.

Bacon cooking in the pot.

Once crispy, add the diced onion and bell pepper to the pot and cook for about 3-4 minutes until softened.

Adding onion and bell pepper to the pot.

Step 3: Add the Flavor Ingredients

Now it’s time to add the minced garlic and smoked paprika to the pot, stirring for about a minute.

Adding minced garlic and smoked paprika.

Next, pour in the maple syrup, black strap molasses, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard.

Adding the sweet and tangy ingredients.

Stir everything together to blend the flavors beautifully.

Mixing the ingredients in the pot.

Step 4: Choose Your Baked Beans

For the baked beans, you can choose from various brands. Bush’s Baked Beans is a classic favorite.

Choosing baked beans from different brands.

Amy’s Baked Beans are vegetarian and have a rich flavor, making them another excellent choice.

Amy's Baked Beans brand.

Once you’ve selected your beans, open the cans and pour them into the pot, stirring to combine.

Pouring baked beans into the pot.

Step 5: Cook the Beans

Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and transfer it to a preheated 400°F oven.

Bringing the mixture to a boil.

Cook the beans for about 20 minutes with the lid on to meld the flavors.

Covering the pot before baking.

After 20 minutes, remove the lid and stir, then let it cook for another 10-15 minutes without the lid.

Stirring the beans after baking.

Step 6: Final Touches and Serving

Keep an eye on the beans as they cook to achieve your desired consistency. They should be thick and glazy.

Checking the consistency of the baked beans.

Once done, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes to thicken further.

Baked beans cooling down.

Now, serve them up in a bowl or as a side dish, and watch them disappear!

Serving the baked beans.

Enjoy Your Baked Beans!

These baked beans are packed with flavor, perfectly balanced between sweet and smoky. They are sure to be a hit at your next gathering!

Feel free to store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 4-5 days or freeze them for up to three months.

Leftover baked beans storage.

I hope you enjoy making this recipe as much as I do. Let me know what you think, and happy cooking!

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