Rich, smoky, and sweet, these homemade baked beans are the perfect BBQ side dish, and they couldn’t be easier. We start with canned beans and dress them up with sautéed veggies, thick molasses, brown sugar, and crispy bacon. Baked low and slow, they come out saucy, flavorful, and totally irresistible.
Homemade Baked Beans with Bacon
If you’re looking for a fully-from-scratch recipe, this isn’t it—but it’s the next best thing. We start with quality canned baked beans and build in layers of flavor with fresh vegetables, molasses, and plenty of crispy bacon. The result? Sweet, smoky, rich, and absolutely irresistible.
A good storm always takes me back to my childhood in Washington, where rain was just part of life. Whether it was a drizzle or a downpour, we still grilled, hiked, and gathered as a family. Now in Utah, those cozy rainy days remind me of home, and comfort food like this feels just right!
Cade’s comfort is sunshine and BBQ, which is fitting because this really is the best baked beans recipe we’ve ever made. I don’t even usually love baked beans, but I love these!

What’s Needed for BBQ Baked Beans?
This easy baked beans recipe doesn’t require any special ingredients. Here’s all you’ll need to make semi-homemade baked beans:
- Bacon: Adds a salty, savory crunch and infuses the beans with deep flavor.
- Red Bell Pepper: Brings a subtle sweetness and a pop of color.
- Onion: Builds the flavor base and melts right into the sauce.
- Ketchup: A classic ingredient that gives tang and body to the sauce.
- Molasses: Adds a warm, rich sweetness with just the right depth.
- Brown Sugar: Balances the tang with a hint of caramelized sweetness.
- Mustard: Adds a little zip to cut through the richness.
- Liquid Smoke: Just a dash gives that slow-smoked flavor without a smoker.
- Canned Baked Beans: The shortcut that makes this recipe fast but still full of a homemade taste.
The measurements needed for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make the Best Baked Beans
These baked beans are the perfect side dish for hot dogs, burgers, brisket, and all your BBQ favorites! With their rich, saucy texture, they perfectly balance every bite. Truly, this is the best baked bean recipe you’ll ever make.
- Crisp: Cook 2/3 of the bacon in a cast iron skillet until browned and crispy. (You can use another pan if needed, but cast iron gives extra flavor and even cooking.)
- Drain: Remove the bacon and set it aside. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the skillet.
- Sauté: Add the onions and red bell pepper to the pan. Cook until soft and tender—they should melt into the sauce.
- Stir: Add the canned baked beans, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, liquid smoke, and most of the cooked bacon. Mix everything together until well combined.
- Bake: Top with the remaining bacon and bake without a lid at 300°F for 2½ to 3 hours, until the sauce is thick and bubbling.
How Long Do Baked Beans Last?
These homemade baked beans with bacon will last up to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
Can You Freeze Baked Beans?
Yes, these BBQ baked beans freeze very well. Simply seal in a freezer bag and freeze. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight. You can reheat the baked beans in the oven or on the stovetop.

Can I Make This Vegetarian?
Yes, of course! If you’d like to make these BBQ baked beans vegetarian, just skip the slices of bacon and proceed as normal, using olive oil for sautéing the vegetables instead of the bacon fat.
What Beans Are Best for Baked Beans?
There are a few different baked beans recipes out there, but most baked beans recipes are made with navy beans, which are small white beans. This classic bean holds up well to the sauce of the baked beans and oven temperatures. This recipe starts with canned baked beans, so there’s no need for a long soak and boil or simmer times like you would get with dried beans.
Which Brand of Baked Beans Are Best?
I never knew there could be so many brands of baked beans before, but as an adult, I’m learning that not all baked beans are created equally. We are currently using Bush’s Baked Beans and have had really wonderful results from the brand. Bush’s Baked Beans have a rich, well-balanced flavor with notes of brown sugar and molasses for sweetness, tomato paste and apple cider vinegar for tanginess, and a subtle smoke from bacon.
The beans themselves add a hearty, savory base, while spices like mustard, onion, paprika, black pepper, salt, and garlic create depth without overpowering the dish. The overall taste is comforting, slightly sweet, and gently smoky! Wow, it’s hard to believe my mouth is watering over beans!

Tips for the BEST Baked Beans
There are two key secrets to making the best homemade baked beans:
- Liquid smoke: We’ve learned through 10 years of blogging that not everyone has a smoker, but everyone wants that smoky flavor. A small amount of liquid smoke is all it takes for these saucy baked beans to taste like you smoked them for hours out on your Traeger.
- Bake low and slow: Baking beans at a lower temperature for a longer period of time will enhance the flavor of the sauce to all new heights, and the beans can easily take the heat. Try baking for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, then serve immediately.
These homemade baked beans are the cozy, from-scratch comfort food your family didn’t know they were missing. Sweet, smoky, and just the right amount of savory, they’re slow-baked to perfection in a rich sauce that tastes like summer picnics and Sunday dinners rolled into one.
Watch How to Make these Homemade Baked Beans…
More SUMMER SIDE DISHES:
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- The Best Potato Salad
- Bacon Ranch Corn Dip
- Slow Cooker Chili Con Queso
- All our SIDE DISH recipes!
Homemade Baked Beans
Description
Ingredients
- 8 Strips Bacon, divided
- 1 Onion, large, chopped
- 1 Bell Pepper, red, chopped
- ¾ Cup Ketchup
- ¼ Cup Molasses
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Mustard
- ¼ teaspoon Liquid Smoke
- 3 Cans Baked Beans, 16 oz.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Fry the bacon and set aside.8 Strips Bacon
- Reserve 2 Tablespoons (or less is fine) of the bacon grease, then sauté onions and peppers in it.1 Bell Pepper, 1 Onion
- Mix all ingredients together except the 1/3 of the bacon.¾ Cup Ketchup, ¼ Cup Molasses, 1 Cup Brown Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Mustard, ¼ teaspoon Liquid Smoke, 3 Cans Baked Beans
- Sprinkle the reserved bacon over the beans.
- Put everything in a large baking dish and bake uncovered for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- When done, sprinkle a little cilantro over the top if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products

Nicole
Hi! Can I prep this whole dish and stash it in the fridge to bake slow the following day or so?
Sweet Basil
Hi Nicole! Absolutely! You can store it in the fridge and then pop it in the oven as stated in the instructions. It may need to bake for a little longer to heat all the way through.
Linda
This is almost the same as the way I make them. I don’t do green pepper or liquid smoke but I do add allspice to mine. The rest is the same and yes they are the best!
Sweet Basil
Yay! Thank you so much Linda!
Diane
My entire family raved about this recipe…. definitely a “keeper”. The only change or “mistake” that I made was I purchased 28oz cans of Bush’s Original beans thinking that was what I needed. After reading the recipe again I decided to use just 2 of them. Recipe was still thick and fabulous!
Sweet Basil
Yay! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Debra
Ok, I will admit I am a bit skeptical about a baked bean recipe that uses canned baked beans . I have made recipes that use rinsed canned beans , but never like this.
Because I LOVE your recipes, I am willing to give it a try.
Finally, to my question…. there are a TON of Bush baked beans options available, so which one did you use in this recipe ?
Thanks !
Sweet Basil
Yes, give it a try and let us know! We just use the original Bush’s baked beans.
Diane
Before I make them, what specifically are the varieties of beans used in the accompanying photo?!! Thanks. I’m eager to make them….
Sweet Basil
Hi Diane! We like to buy the Bush’s Baked Bean original flavor. We have loved the results using these.
Kathleen Ostrowski
Can you can these?
Sweet Basil
I’ve never tried that! I don’t see why not!
Allison White
Question: So you’re using preseasoned baked beans then adding more brown sugar and molasses? I thought I read to use navy beans then the recipe calls for baked beans. Not too sweet? Just wanted to clarify thank you!
Sweet Basil
Hi Allison! A lot of baked beans are made with navy beans. It just depends on what baked beans you buy or prefer. Enjoy this recipe!
Kathy
I found your recipe online when looking for a baked bean recipe similar to my MIL’s recipe. She is no longer with us to get the exact ingredients, so I went searching. The only thing different that I can identify is that she added cooked, seasoned ground beef. It has always been a family favorite as yours has been with your family. Thank you so much for sharing!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Kathy! I hope this comes close to the flavors you remember!
Jessica
We LOVE these beans! They have officially become the “asked for” beans of family gatherings! The one thing that confused me every time is the bacon! I don’t understand if all of it goes into the dish cooked or if you’re putting uncooked bacon on the top!
Jessica
Sorry just saw your reply to the same question below!
Sweet Basil
Hey Jessica! The first step stay to fry the bacon. Then 2/3 of the cooked bacon goes in with the beans, the other 1/3 gets sprinkled on top. So glad you enjoy these beans! They are a favorite in our house!
Traci
Just put them in the oven….can’t wait! They look scrumptious!!
Sweet Basil
How were they??!!
Alicia
This recipe turned out great ! It was the perfect complement to BBQ ribs and potato salad. Thanks for sharing
Sweet Basil
That sounds like the perfect meal to me!! So glad you enjoyed it!
Michele
Are you supposed to drain the beans before mixing with other ingredients?
Sweet Basil
Hi Michele! Don’t drain them. Enjoy!
Bridgette
Can you make these in advance, refrigerate and then bake the day of?
Sweet Basil
Absolutely!
Jean
Do you have a baked bean recipe that includes apples?
Sweet Basil
No we don’t, but that sounds delicious!
James Tapscott
I want to try this recipe
Sweet Basil
You should for sure!!
Misha
Does the raw bacon go in with the bean mixture and the cooked bacon go on top before putting in the oven?
Sweet Basil
I’m so sorry for the confusion! I’ve updated the recipe card to be more clear. You cook all the bacon, mix 2/3 of it in the beans and sprinkle the other 1/3 on top before baking!
Kimberly
I also forgot to ask if doubling or tripling the recipe is the cook time stay the same? And what type of onion do you use (white, yellow, sweet)?
Sweet Basil
Hey Kimberly! Regular yellow mustard, yellow onion (purple works great too), and if you use a low lipped pan, it shouldn’t change the time, but if you use a deeper pan then you might want to add 10-15 extra minutes to get it to heat through.
kimberly
Quick question…do you use dry mustard or a liquid mustard?
Ruthy
Can we go over the nutritional information? Not sure it’s accurate!
Sweet Basil
oh dear,it’s pulling for the full recipe again. Hang on and I’ll correct it.
Christine Paul
I definitely want to make this recipe, this weekend, it sounds amazing!! What flavour of liquid smoke would you recommend?
Sweet Basil
Any flavor will work great! We tend to use hickory most often.
Brittany Audra @ Audra’s Appetite
Yum these look so thick and sweet!! 🙂
Sweet Basil
They are so good!
Barbara Ruka
Yes, are these quart size cans or what? How many people does this feed???
Sweet Basil
Sorry about that, it’s 16 ounce cans and feeds 6-8 people
Aj
So I just made these gems today! They look PERFECT! However, I tasted them at around the 1 hour mark. They are SO INCREDIBLY SWEET. Now I like baked beans that are a little sweet, but a whole cup of brown sugar seems a bit much. I’ll taste them again at the 2 hour mark to see if the flavors meld a bit better. I’m thinking that I will make this again in the future, but cut the sugar down to 1/2 or 1/4 cup.
In the meantime, any tips to cut the sweetness? I was just going to take half the beans out, add in a new can and heat to try & mellow out that flavor.
Sweet Basil
Hey AJ! How did they turn out? If they were too sweet for you, you could definitely cut back on the brown sugar.
Susie Q
Sodium? Not feeding a crowd…whew smaller reciepe? for 2 maybe?
Sweet Basil
You can half the recipe and it would feed about 4 people, so you’d have leftovers.
Darla
3 large cans of beans…..do you mean the REALLY big cans? Or just the 28 oz cans?
Sweet Basil
Hi Darla, sorry about that, it’s 3 16 ounce cans
Taylor
Can this be done in a crockpot? If so, for how long?
Sweet Basil
Absolutely! It will be about the same amount of time in the crockpot…2.5-3 hours on low. You could even stretch it out to 4 hours if you want.
Jennifurla
Just like my mom makes, looks great
Sarah
I love bell peppers in beans. Sounds great!