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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes - Beans Rice and Grains

    By Carol Published: Jul 1, 2020 Modified: Feb 15, 2022 | This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans

    Jump to Recipe
    4.50 from 539 votes
    1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

    With just a few ingredients you may already have on hand, you can turn ordinary canned baked beans into extraordinary! Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans is an easy and delicious way to make canned beans taste as though you made them from scratch! Perfect with my BBQ Chicken Thighs!

    "This recipe was a definite 5-star. Everyone loved the beans!"

    Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans in white oval baking dish with serving spoon on cooling rack with blue striped towel.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS: Click the Icon to Find the Info You Need FAST

    • Why This Recipe is a Keeper!
    • How to make Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans:
    • Storing Leftovers:
    • More great summery side dishes for your next get-together!
    • Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans
      • Equipment
      • Ingredients  1x2x3x
      • Instructions 
      • Notes
      • Nutrition

    Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

    Short on time or just don't want to go to the trouble of making baked beans from scratch?

    Here's a recipe you'll want to file away for all your special occasions like graduations, Mother's Day, Father's Day, summer barbecuing, potlucks and even the holidays!

    If you love the convenience of canned baked beans but find them lacking in homemade flavor, my Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans are an easy way to dress them up and taste as though you made them from scratch!  This is the best baked beans recipe from canned beans with hundreds of four and five-star reviews!

    The flavor base in canned baked beans is already there but with a little help with simple ingredients you may already have on hand, no one will ever know you started with a store-bought convenience item!

    This baked beans recipe with canned beans is:

    • Easy!
    • Budget-friendly because not a lot of extra ingredients are needed--just good, flavorful mostly pantry ingredients.
    • Completely make-ahead.
    • A sure crowd-pleaser!
    Baked beans on serving spoon.

    How to make Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans:

    • Start with four 16.5-ounce or two 28-ounce cans of original recipe canned baked beans such as Bush's.
    Overhead photo of four cans of opened canned baked beans.
    • Gather up the rest of the ingredients:
      • Bacon
      • Onion
      • Molasses
      • Spicy brown mustard (can substitute yellow mustard)
      • Worcestershire
      • Brown sugar
      • Ketchup
      • A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for a touch of tanginess is optional and not shown.
    Ingredients for Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans in glass bowls.
    • Cook the bacon until it's crispy then transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate.  Reserve the bacon drippings.
    Cooked bacon in nonstick skillet.
    • Cook the onion in the reserved drippings until it's softened.
    • Combine everything in a 4-quart baking dish.  Save a little bacon to sprinkle over the top.
    • MAKE AHEAD: The beans can be assembled up to two days ahead of time.  Refrigerate covered until needed.
    Baked beans in white oval baking dish.
    • Bake uncovered for one hour or until hot, bubbling and the top of the beans is caramelized.  Yessssss.......like this!
    Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans on cooling rack with serving spoon with blue striped towel.
    • Garnish with the reserved bacon...
    Baking dish full of baked beans with serving spoon.
    • And let everyone dig in!
    Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans in white oval baking dish with serving spoon on cooling rack.

    SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS: If you prefer slow cooking this baked bean recipe, the top won't get caramelized.  As suggested by a reader, place a tea towel over the top of the slow cooker to absorb the steam that is produced in a slow cooker so it doesn't water down the beans.

    Spoonful of Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans on serving spoon.

    Storing Leftovers:

    First, ensure the beans didn't sit out too long at your gathering.  Two hours at room temperature is the max.  Longer than that and you're flirting with a foodborne illness.

    Store any leftovers in the refrigerator or freeze them for later use in an airtight container for 2-3 months.

    FREEZER-FRIENDLY: Freeze them for later use in an airtight container for two to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator or microwave and bake as directed.

    More great summery side dishes for your next get-together!

    • Mediterranean Farro Salad
    • Creamy Cucumber Salad with Yogurt
    • Easy Fresh Tomato Salad
    • Cool and Creamy Potato Salad
    • Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
    • Quinoa Tabbouleh with Grilled Vegetables
    • Tuscan Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad

    Join the FROM A CHEF'S KITCHEN MAILING LIST to get all the latest posts and more!

    Kicked Up Canned Baked Beans - Overhead shot of the baked beans in white baking dish

    Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans

    4.50 from 539 votes
    By: Carol | From A Chef's Kitchen
    Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans is an easy and delicious way to make ordinary canned baked beans taste as though you made them from scratch!
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE SAVE RECIPE Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
    Course Side Dishes - Beans Rice and Grains
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 -12
    Calories 199 kcal

    Equipment

    • Wusthof Chef Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Nonstick Skillet
    • Baking Dish

    Ingredients
      

    • Cooking spray - for pan
    • 6 slices bacon - diced
    • 1 small onion - finely chopped
    • 4 cans (16.5-ounce) baked beans - or 2 (28-ounce) cans, preferably original recipe such as Bush's, undrained
    • ¼ cup ketchup
    • 2-3 tablespoons light brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
    • 2 tablespoons molasses
    • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar - optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 4-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
    • Place the bacon in a skillet or saute pan and cook for 4-5 minutes over medium heat until rendered and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
    • Place the onion in the skillet with the bacon drippings and cook for 5-6 minutes or until very soft. If the pan gets dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of water and continue cooking until the onions are cooked to a soft stage.
    • Combine the beans, onions, ¾ of the bacon and the remaining ingredients using 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to start with in the prepared baking dish.
    • Taste and adjust sweetness with more brown sugar as desired. Add the apple cider vinegar for a little tanginess if you desire.
    • Sprinkle the remaining bacon over the top.
    • Bake uncovered for 1 hour or until bubbling and the top is caramelized.

    Notes

    MAKE AHEAD:  Beans can be assembled to the point of baking up to 2 days ahead. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking or add additional baking time.
    SLOW COOKER:  Can also be made in the slow cooker but you won't get the caramelized top and the beans could be a bit soupier.  Place a clean kitchen towel over the slow cooker then place the lid on. The kitchen towel will absorb some of the steam which can water down the beans.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 | Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 105mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @fromachefskitchen.

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    Categories: Make Ahead and Meal Prep

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cynthia Chandler says

      May 30, 2023 at 10:35 pm

      5 stars
      This is my go-to recipe ALL summer long. Not just for BBQ and get-togethers, but an easy snack in the fridge for hubby!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        May 31, 2023 at 8:16 am

        Hi, Cynthia, Thanks so very much and so happy you love this recipe so much!! You made my day!

        Reply
    2. Ariyan Roller says

      May 25, 2023 at 7:37 pm

      5 stars
      Yes! Love it Love it!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        May 26, 2023 at 7:50 am

        Hi, Ariyan, Thanks so much and happy you enjoyed!

        Reply
    3. Debbie Gilman says

      April 27, 2023 at 9:50 am

      Hey there! This looks SO good! My father in law made amazing baked beans using canned baked and added stuff. He couldn't tell me what he put in them to make them so delicious, but I'm going to give this a shot. Can I use brown honey mustard as that is what I have on hand? Thank you and can't wait to try this recipe out!

      Reply
      • Carol says

        April 27, 2023 at 9:59 am

        Hi, Debbie, Thanks so much for your question. Yes, I don't see why not. You may want to reduce the amount of brown sugar a bit because of the honey in the mustard. Thanks again and hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Tami says

      April 11, 2023 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      Made these for a minister's dinner...got rave reviews...I did add extra brown sugar and some white sugar to taste...I did use the apple cider vinegar. Definitely did not disappoint...tossing my old recipe and making this my go to recipe.

      Reply
      • Carol says

        April 11, 2023 at 12:34 pm

        Hi, Tami, Wow! Thanks so very much and so happy everyone enjoyed this recipe! Super honored that it's replacing your other. Thanks again!

        Reply
    5. Makyla says

      March 31, 2023 at 6:41 pm

      Do you think these beans would be good if I added hamburger to them? Thanks

      Reply
      • Carol says

        April 01, 2023 at 7:49 am

        Hi, Makyla, Thanks so much for your question. Yes, I think they'd be just fine with ground beef added. Thanks again and hope everyone enjoys!

        Reply
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