The Best and Easiest Baked Beans Ever
Elevate your next barbecue or family dinner with "The Best and Easiest Baked Beans Ever"—a foolproof recipe bursting with smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors. This comforting classic combines tender canned navy beans, crispy thick-cut bacon, sautéed onions, and a luscious homemade sauce made with ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, and a hint of smoked paprika for an irresistible depth of flavor. With just 15 minutes of prep and an hour of easy baking, this dish delivers a perfectly caramelized finish and a rich, hearty texture. Whether served as a side at cookouts or a cozy weeknight treat, these baked beans are guaranteed to impress.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 3 cups canned navy beans
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 large yellow onion
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 cup ketchup
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Drain and rinse the canned navy beans, then set them aside.
Slice the thick-cut bacon into 1-inch pieces and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.
Finely chop the yellow onion and mince the garlic cloves. Sauté both in the reserved bacon grease over medium heat until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, molasses, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to create the sauce base.
Add the sautéed onions and garlic, crisped bacon, and navy beans to the sauce mixture. Stir gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
Transfer the mixture to a 9x13-inch (or similar-sized) baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even cooking.
Remove from the oven once the sauce has thickened and the top has a slight caramelized glaze. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve warm and enjoy this comforting, flavorful dish!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1999 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 40.1 g | 51% | |
| Saturated Fat | 14.0 g | 70% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 64 mg | 21% | |
| Sodium | 5692 mg | 247% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 346.5 g | 126% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 43.3 g | 155% | |
| Total Sugars | 160.9 g | ||
| Protein | 73.4 g | 147% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 636 mg | 49% | |
| Iron | 16.9 mg | 94% | |
| Potassium | 4019 mg | 86% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
