Baked Beans

For years I’ve been looking for a baked beans recipe to make that I like and have yet to find one.  I’ve scoured the internet, cookbooks, and even asked friends, and nothing.  The other day I did make a recipe that I liked but it’s still lacking something. 

Have you ever been to Bandana’s BBQ?  I love their baked beans and apparently they use a couple cans of beans and then doctor them up.  If you have that recipe please share it with me, I’d love it.

The recipe that I made the other night was tasty and I’m hoping that they’ll taste that much better when I reheat them after freezing the leftovers.  I combined several different recipes together all very similar but each had something extra added.  I’d like the sauce on this to be a bit thicker and heartier.  One recipe called for adding in ground beef – I opted to leave that out since I wasn’t looking for a meal on baked beans.  Some included vinegar and others bbq sauce or ketchup.  After pulling them altogether, this is what I came up with.

While very tasty I was really looking for the Bandana’s version.  If you’re looking for a homemade or doctored up recipe for Baked Beans you might try these.  However, if you have a recipe like Bandana’s or one that you think will knock my socks off please share it with me.  I LOVE baked beans.

Print Recipe

Baked Beans

Yield: serves 15

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 65 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. smoked bacon, chopped
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 (28 oz) can favorite baked beans
• 1 (28 oz) can Navy Beans, drained
• 1/2 cup dark molasses
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 Tbsp. BBQ sauce
• 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
• 1 cup red bell pepper, chopped

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees
2. Fry bacon in a large skillet until crisp.
3. Remove bacon from pan leaving 4 Tbsp. bacon drippings in pan.  Drain bacon on paper towel and set aside.
4. Add onion and peppers to pan and saute until soft, about 7 minutes
5. Stir in beans, molasses, sugar, BBQ sauce, vinegar, mustard and bacon.  Mix well and bring to a simmer.
6. Pour bean mixture into a large casserole dish and bake, uncovered for 45 minutes.
7. Serve. Enjoy!!!

Leftovers can be placed in a container with lid and placed in the freezer.  When ready to serve, defrost and heat slowly so the beans don't get mushy.