My family’s go-to baked beans recipe for decades – Anastasia’s Best-Ever Baked Beans, make in the oven or slow cooker. These are a must-have at barbecues and get-togethers. This shortcut recipe is easy to make, so darn good. Rave Reviews!
Best-Ever Baked Beans Recipe (Oven or Slow Cooker/Crock Pot)
My sister’s famous baked beans recipe, an easy-to-make, go-to favorite side dish – made with canned pork and beans, sautéed onions, molasses, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and bacon… a big ol’ dish of comfort! The perfect side for so many meals, holidays, potlucks, picnics and barbecues. Simple to make. So good. Sure to become a new favorite! Read the rave reviews!
RAVE REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE WHO TRIED THIS RECIPE ON PINTEREST!
More Great Reviews and even More Reviews
Original Recipe Post Date, April 3, 2016. Post Updated, April 1, 2023.
My friend, Marsha, from The Better Baker, won PEOPLE’S CHOICE at her local Beans Day festival with my sister’s recipe! Head over to read her fun post!
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE EASY BAKED BEANS
- canned pork and beans (VanCamps’s canned Pork and Beans or similar)
- onion
- butter
- ketchup
- molasses
- yellow mustard
- brown sugar
- bacon
How to Make the best baked beans in the oven or slow cooker
Preheat oven to 325 degrees f. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Sauté onions over medium to medium-high heat in butter until onions are tender and translucent.
Mix beans, ketchup, mustard, molasses and brown sugar…
Next, add the sautéd onions and mix well and pour in prepared baking dish.
Top with uncooked bacon in single layer.
Bake on middle rack of oven uncovered for 2–3 hours.
Beans are ready when the top is dark and caramelized. Serve warm. Enjoy!
How To Make in the Slow Cooker
These can also be thrown together and cooked in the slow cooker set on low for 6 to 8 hours as well. It won’t get that nice caramelize top, but it will still be delicious if you’re in a pinch for time. Be sure to sauté the onions first and pre-cook the bacon.
Frequesnlty asked Baked Beans questions
Prep time for the baked beans is about 20 mins. They are baked low and slow fin the oven for 2–3 hours, until the bacon is dark and caramelized.
The oven is best. The oven allows the bacon to caramelize. So good.
We use VanCamp’s, but others have used different brands and love the results.
Yes! You can prepare everything the night before, then pop them in the oven the next day.
For this recipe, use unsulphured molasses. 
Store leftover baked beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. You can reheat the baked beans in the microwave, stove or oven.
Want More Great Side Dishes for your next get-together?
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a sponsored post. I have no affiliation with any of the products shared in this recipe.
Anastasia’s Best-Ever Baked Beans (Oven or Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 5 cans pork and beans (15 ounce cans) VanCamps’s Pork and Beans or similar
- 1 large yellow or sweet onion, chopped (or 2 medium size onions) not vidalia
- 1 – 2 Tablespoons butter (for sautéing onions)
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 3 Tablespoons yellow mustard
- ½ cup molasses, unsulphured
- ¼ – ½ cup brown sugar (use less for less sweetness)
- 6-8 slices uncooked bacon (each slice cut in half or thirds)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees f. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Sauté onions over medium to medium-high heat in butter until onions are tender and translucent.
- Mix beans, ketchup, mustard, molasses and brown sugar.
- Add the sautéd onions and mix well and pour in prepared baking dish.
- Top with uncooked bacon in single layer. Bake on middle rack of oven uncovered for 2–3 hours. Beans are ready when the top is dark and caramelized.
Notes
These can also be thrown together and cooked in the slow cooker set on low for 6 to 8 hours as well. It won’t get that nice caramelize top, but it will still be delicious if you’re in a pinch for time. Be sure to sauté the onions first and pre-cook the bacon. BEANS FROM SCRATCH, for those of you who would never make beans from a can – If you want to make baked beans from scratch, head here for a great recipe – Boston Baked Beans – “A wonderful old-fashioned baked bean flavor. This recipe has served by family for 29 years and originally came from my mother-in-law. It tastes great served with fresh cornbread or biscuits and honey. Although you need to allow time for soaking and simmering the beans, this recipe is still quite easy.”
Peg
This is a favorite of ours. Delicious….. I don’t drain the beans because I tried that once and they were dry. Thanks for a great recipe!