Baked beans with bacon is a hearty, savory dish that combines the natural sweetness of slow-cooked beans with the rich, smoky flavor of bacon. This classic comfort food has been a staple in many homes for generations, often served as a side dish for barbecues, hearty breakfasts, or cozy family dinners. The combination of tender beans, caramelized onions, and crispy bacon creates a dish that’s both filling and satisfying, with layers of deep, savory flavor.
The base of baked beans with bacon starts with white beans, typically navy beans or Great Northern beans, which are known for their soft, creamy texture. The beans are slow-cooked in a flavorful mixture of tomato sauce, molasses, brown sugar, and mustard, creating a balance of sweetness and tang. The addition of crispy bacon brings a smoky, savory element that elevates the dish, adding depth and richness to every bite.
The bacon is usually cooked first, rendering its fat and creating a crisp texture that contrasts beautifully with the soft beans. Once the bacon is cooked, it’s crumbled and added to the sauce, allowing the flavors to meld together as the beans simmer slowly. The dish is often baked in the oven, allowing the flavors to develop even further while the top becomes golden and slightly caramelized.
Baked beans with bacon can be served as a side dish to complement grilled meats, roasted chicken, or even burgers. They also make a fantastic accompaniment to a full breakfast, alongside eggs and toast, or can be enjoyed on their own for a simple, satisfying meal. The dish is versatile, and many variations exist, such as adding brown onions, garlic, or a splash of vinegar to balance the sweetness.
This dish isn’t just delicious — it’s also packed with protein and fiber from the beans, making it both comforting and nourishing. Whether served at a family gathering or enjoyed as a cozy meal at home, baked beans with bacon are a timeless classic that’s sure to please.
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon cut into pieces
- 1 large onion chopped
- 54 oz canned baked beans two 27 oz cans
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.
- In the same skillet with the bacon fat, sauté the chopped onion until translucent.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine baked beans, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, sautéed onions, and half of the cooked bacon. Mix well.
- Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top with the remaining bacon.
- Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour until the mixture is bubbly and thickened.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Yum! Perfect for our BBQ. I did add some jalapeños for a kick and it was fire!
These beans are AMAZING! The bacon adds such a great flavor. My family loved it!
I totally agree! Adding bacon is the best choice for flavor! Can’t wait to make this for my family too!
Beans with bacon? Sounds gross, honestly. Do people really like that combination?
Bacon beans! Who doesn’t love that? Easy recipe, just what I needed!
Too sweet for my taste. I think I would add less sugar next time.
I dunno about the brown sugar, seems kinda weird for beans. Just made it without and it was fine.
I think the brown sugar adds a nice sweetness to balance the savory beans and bacon. But hey, if you liked it without, that’s cool too!
Baked beans are good but this one is just average. Too much sweet for my taste.
I think it needs more mustard. The onions could be cooked more too, they were still crunchy for my taste.
I dunno, baked beans are not my thing. Also, do you really need that much bacon?
Bacon makes everything better! But I get what you mean, baked beans aren’t for everyone.
Honestly, I think it needs more bacon! Haha, but yeah, it’s definitely not the dish for everyone.
Just made this for a potluck, everyone raved about it! Will make again for sure!
Took forever to cook, but it was worth the wait! My husband gobbled it up. 💖
Bacon and beans? Sounds weird, but I tried it. Kinda good, I guess. Can’t believe I liked it!
I liked it alright but felt like something was missing. Maybe some garlic? 🤷♂️
Checked all ingredients and I don’t have 27 oz cans anywhere? What is that?
Those sizes can be confusing! Just use what you have, like any canned beans will work. Just adjust other ingredients accordingly!
I followed the steps but mine turned out too sweet. More balance would be good.
I don’t know about the mustard in here… didn’t taste right. Plus, 1 hour is too long for beans!
Too many ingredients for me, you could just heat up a can of beans.
Yum!!! I use maple syrup instead of brown sugar sometimes, it adds a nice touch.
This recipe is so delicious! The bacon adds the perfect flavor. My family loves it!
Totally agree! Bacon makes everything better! My kids can’t get enough of it either.
I dunno, isn’t this just canned beans dressed up? Where’s the real cooking?
This is a lot of sugar. Why not just use maple syrup instead? 🤔
Made this for the potluck, and it was a hit! Everyone kept asking for the recipe. Thanks!
Really? Baked beans at a potluck? Seems kinda basic… I dunno if I’d wanna try that. Are they good or just popular?
That sounds delicious! I’m so glad everyone loved it. Definitely going to try making these beans for my next gathering!
I just mixed everything in a pot on the stove. Is that okay?
Uh oh! Mixing it on the stove is not how the recipe says to do it. You gotta bake it to get that good flavor! 🤔
I think mixing it in a pot is okay, but you’ll miss out on the baked aspect! Give it a try though, might be good anyway!
We liked it, but my husband says it taste like something his mom used to make. Nostalgia!
I don’t know, seems like too much sugar for beans. Gonna pass.
I get what you mean! That much sugar does sound weird for beans, but it actually balances the flavors. You might be missing out! 😅
So good! Next time, I’m adding some jalapenos for a kick. 🌶️
I was a bit skeptical about putting ketchup in beans, but wow, it actually worked out! Surprising!
I never thought of adding ketchup either! Sounds like I gotta try this now. Thanks for sharing your surprise!
These beans are sooo good! My whole fam loved it!
Yum! Sounds delicious! Can’t wait to try it for my family too!
This looks really good! I’m gonna try it but I might use turkey bacon for less fat.
Just okay. I expected more flavor. Maybe I should’ve added more spices?
I totally get that! Adding more spices could really amp up the flavor. Maybe some garlic powder or chili powder next time?
Idk, baked beans don’t really need more spices, maybe just your taste is different? It’s pretty good as is!
I made this for my BBQ and everyone went crazy over it! Definitely a keeper.
This recipe is the best! My family loved it. Will make again for sure!
Served these at a BBQ, and they were gone in minutes! Will make again for sure! 🎉
Sounds delicious! I’ve got to try this recipe at my next BBQ. Thanks for sharing! 😋
Baked beans and bacon?? Gotta be the best combo ever! So satisfied.
Totally! The smokiness from the bacon with the sweetness of the beans is just perfect. I’m drooling just thinking about it! 😋
Baked beans? With bacon? Isn’t that a bit too heavy? I prefer my beans plain. But hey, if you like it, more power to you.
This was delicious! The bacon adds a great flavor!!
This was sooo good! I love all the flavors combined, especially with the bacon. Will make again!
I didn’t have all the ingredients, so I skipped the mustard and added some hot sauce instead. It was okay, but I think it needs the mustard.
My kids loved this! Super easy to make, but I added a bit of chili powder for a kick!
Bacon plus beans? YUM! But can’t we all agree that beans are kinda farty? 😂
Haha, so true! Beans can be a bit gassy, but totally worth it with bacon! 🥓🚀
Beans is good, but I think this recipe is a little sweet for my taste. But overall, it was ok.
Bacon makes everything better! Can’t go wrong with this. 🥓
This is a real easy recipe, but I think real baked beans is suppose to use molasses instead of sugar! Just saying.
Molasses is good, but brown sugar gives that nice rich flavor! I think it’s fine with sugar. 🤷♀️
These baked beans are absolutely delicious! The bacon adds such a nice flavor. My family loved it!
Wayyy too much bacon! I mean, who needs this much fat? I’m more about health, ya know?
But it’s not healthy at all! You could use turkey bacon or something, right? This just seems like a heart attack waiting to happen.
I think the bacon is what makes it tasty! More bacon, more flavor! 🤤
Bacon and beans? Sounds gross. Why even bother with the bacon? It’s not necessary!
Tasted fantastic! My kids can’t stop eating it. Only thing I did differently was use turkey bacon to make it healthier.
Yum!
Absolutely delicious! My family devoured it. Just the right amount of sweetness.
This recipe is so good! I added extra bacon and it was the hit of the BBQ. Yum!
Really? Who puts baked beans in the oven? Sounds weird to me. That’s not how we do things where I’m from.
Why y’all makin beans fancy? Just eat them from the can! 🙄
You really think ketchup belongs here? I’m not convinced. Seems odd… 😕
Not bad, but I think it needed more flavor…maybe garlic? idk.
Bacon?? Is that really necessary??? Beans are beans.
Bacon adds a nice flavor to the beans! It’s all about layering those tastes. Trust me, you’ll love it!
I don’t know, but this seems a bit too sweet for baked beans. Not for me.
Great recipe but I skipped the bacon because of health issues, still turned out tasty!
I didn’t have Worcestershire sauce, so I used soy sauce… it turned out okay. Keeping it real.
Perfect for my BBQ party! I’ll be making this again! Thanks!
I ain’t a fan of beans, but this dish actually changed my mind. Yum!
Tasted ok, but it seemed too sweet for my taste. I prefer more savory.
Bacon and beans?? What a combo! This is the kind of dish that makes you feel happy inside. 😋
I know, right? Bacon makes everything better! 😄 Can’t wait to try this recipe.
I followed the recipe but my beans were still runny. Did I do something wrong?
I think you might need to drain some of the liquid from the beans before mixing. That helped me before!
Maybe you didn’t bake them long enough? The time is key for thickening. Don’t worry, it’s a common mistake!
Bacon loves beans!