Today I am sharing my family’s go-to baked beans recipe that has been in the family for decades – Anastasia’s Best-Ever Baked Beans! These are a must-have at family barbecues! Simple to make, so darn good.
Read rave reviews from people who tried this recipe on Pinterest!
Read even more great reviews.
Pork and beans with sauteed onions, molasses, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and bacon… a big ol’ dish of comfort.
Did I mention….bacon?!! These are the best stinkin’ baked beans!! My sister always gets asked for the recipe when she brings this side dish to parties and gatherings.
These make the perfect side dish for so many meals, potlucks, picnics and barbecues. Simple to make. So good. Sure to become a new favorite.
UPDATE: My friend, Marsha, aka The Better Baker, recently won PEOPLE’S CHOICE at her local Beans Day festival using this recipe! Head over to read her fun post!
Pinnable Image
Anastasia’s Best-Ever Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 5 cans of pork and beans (15 ounce cans – VanCamps’s Pork and Beans or similar)
- 2 medium or 1 large onion, chopped (yellow or sweet onion, not vidalia)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons butter (for sauteing onions)
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup brown sugar (use less for less sweetness)
- 6 to 8 slices uncooked bacon, each cut in half or thirds
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees f. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Saute onions over medium to medium-high heat in butter until onions are tender and translucent.
Mix beans, sauteed onions, ketchup, mustard, molasses and brown sugar until blended well. Pour in prepared baking dish. Top with uncooked bacon in single layer (see photo above). Bake on middle rack of oven uncovered for 2-3 hours. Beans are ready when the top is dark and caramelized. Serve warm. Enjoy!
TIP – Make in 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 saute the onions first and pre-cook the bacon.
BEANS FROM SCRATCH – 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.”
TIP – Make in 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 saute the onions first and pre-cook the bacon.
BEANS FROM SCRATCH – 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.”
Sharing this recipe at Weekend Potluck.
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Cheers!
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when I do my ribs on a rack, I put my cast iron beans under them to catch all the drippings, little extra in the beans
I make these yummy beans as well and add 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper with the onion and 2 TLB BBQ Sauce with the sauce part. They are AMAZING !
Try substituting a can of French’s fried onions for the sautéed onions. It’s fantastic!
THAT sounds like a great addition!
I made this recipe and it was a big hit with everyone. I'll never go back to my old recipe. This one's a keeper.
Looks amazing. Love the step by step photos!
We will need to make this for football games. Looks delicious!
I gotta try this recipe for my last cookout this summer!!!
I don't sauté the onions they'll cook through while baking. Plus I add a diced green pepper. Instead of ketchup and molasses I use my favorite bbq sauce. Dark brown sugar has molasses in it. Bacon? You can't use too much bacon!!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing. I have a barbecue to go to on Labor Day on Monday. How would the recipe be without the molasses? I heard molasses wasn't good for you.
I make mine like this except I use grandma browns baked beans instead of pork & beans
I have been making this for years. But it seems like the can beans have more sauce than years ago, making the end result soupy. Should I start draining the canned beans?
I always drain the liquid out of the cans.
My family has been making these baked Baked bean for 4 generations and we call them the the Roberson Family Baked Beans.
Hi just wondering — No cover for the 3 hrs? And still juicy or is it a thick sauce?
The recipe sounds delicious, can't wait to try it :)!
I use this recipe adding a green pepperwhen sautéing the onion. I add a bit of cumin or chili powder red pepper flakes and some of a good barbecue sauce if I don't have molasses my extra pow comes from two tablespoons of bourbon…the alcohol burns off during the cooking so just the flavor remains….any recipe is a work in progress and everyone should say thanks and take no offense as tweeks are suggested. This is how perfection is achieved. No offense should be taken. Rageoninky
I use this recipe adding a green pepperwhen sautéing the onion. I add a bit of cumin or chili powder red pepper flakes and some of a good barbecue sauce if I don't have molasses my extra pow comes from two tablespoons of bourbon…the alcohol burns off during the cooking so just the flavor remains….any recipe is a work in progress and everyone should say thanks and take no offense as tweeks are suggested. This is how perfection is achieved. No offense should be taken. Rageoninky
Can't anyone accept a recipe just as it is and say thanks?
I totally agree, people are soooo annoying with all their changes and additions! The only ingredient that is the same is the can of beans… I want to make a recipe as stated and see how others liked it!
Imake the same that you have here with 2 additions hamburger and bell pepper
I add crushed pineapple instead of molasses
I made these tonight and the taste was good however,they were really runny. What did I do wrong?
I know it sounds weird but i throw in some crushed pineapple. If you like baked beans on the sweet side this will do it!
I make 2 kinds of baked beans using this recipe. I make them regular as directed and the second recipe has pineapple tidbits in it (juice drained off) and it is delicious.
I love this recipe – now if there was only a way to de-fart the bean/onion combo!!
These look amazing I am wondering, it is just my husband and I would I be able to freeze leftovers?
This recipe sounds absolutely perfect for putting on the smoker a hour or so to give it a rich, sweet smokey flavour. Can't wait. Thank you 👍 😄
This is pretty much how we do it only with the addition of pineapple tidbits. Gives it an extra bit of flavor.
Sounds yummy to me. I’ve always used canned apple pie filling, just a different take on the fruit.
This sounds amazing and I will be trying this soon!