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!
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.
Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers!
Betty Scully
I’ve made this recipe pretty much for years, however I add a small can of crushed pineapple w/juice. Great flavor. Also, I blanch the bacon in the mico to remove some of the fat.
RobertS
Best-Ever Baked Beans — Yes!! These are the BEST!!
Thank You for sharing!!
Audrey
How many does this serve?
Mary Neumann
Hi Audrey – at least 8 people since this is a side.
Kelly
How long to cook if bacon is cooked?
jodee I witcher
Whole family loved this recipe..ended up sending some home with children at Easter time..what little was left..that is. So good !! Having again for Mothers day!! Super GOOD !!
Barbara J Johnson
I have made Baked beans for 100’s.. Yours sound yummy.
I start with GREAT NORTHERN (CANNED OR DRY) I ADD SUGAR, FROZEN ONIONS, BACON OR BACON ENDS BAKE FOR NIUMEROUS HOURS LIKE 8 HOURS TO 15 HOURS SO DIFFERENT BUT i’M SURE JUST AS GOOD.
Nancy Newberger
I have a question about the molasses. When shopping for molasses not long ago, I was confused at which one I use for baked beans. My dad always used molasses in his beans and I wanted to do the same. Please help
Shawn
Why can’t you use Vidalia onions?
TYVMIA,
Shawn
Amy
Can these be made and then frozen?
Barbara
These are much better with a splash of liquid smoke. This same recipe has been in our family for 40 plus years lol.
Nancy Erea
I made this recipe, but I used dry beans. I would never use canned beans. It came out good.
Helen
I make these beans too but I use grandma brown beans….YUMMY
Sue
OMG! Great recipe!! My changes:
Par cook the bacon so the beans aren’t as greasy
Then cook onions in bacon fat-drain well
Pour out some of the liquid from the beans before adding them
Add less molasses then recipe (I halved the recipe so added 2 1/2 tbsp)
Also Used 1/2 of a 1/4 cup of brn sugar OMG! Fantastic recipe!
Debbie Fell
I use only ketchup and brown sugar and bacon on top and bake low for a few hrs uncoverd and it’s the best. I am told it take like beans made from scratch. I never add onions as some don’t eat them.
Jan Hinkle
Sounds wonderful! How many people will one recipe feed?
Angie
My moms recipe
3 lg can of Campbell’s baked beans
1 lg sweet onion- sautee in bacon grease
Pound of bacon- dice a fry crisp & drain on paper towels
Brown sugar- 1/2 c
Ketchup- 1/2 c
Yellow mustard- 1/4 c
Powdered mustand- 2 tsp
Worcestershire sauce- 1 tbsp
Patience Justice
I have tried this recipe several times now and it always has good flavor but for some reason I can never get it to thicken up right. I’ve cooked in both the oven and crock pot and follow all directions but not sure if I’m doing something wrong??
Gunner
I HAVE SHARED THIS BAKED BEANS EVER RECIPE WITH GOOD FRIENDS. THEY ALL SAY ” IT’S THEIR BEST EVER! ” MY REPLY ” TOLD YA “
Gunner
Fixed this king AGAIN last night. Now we know why it’s called “best ever !”
Dana
Ummm confused. Very experienced cook here. You list “yellow or sweet onion but not Vidalia”. Vidalia is a sweet onion so are you implying that one can use sweet onions but not, specifically, Vidalia onions, for some peculiar reason? Can you expand upon this instruction and/or thought process? Is it because Vidalia’s are sweeter than other sweet onions, in your opinion?
Mary Neumann
Yes, Dana,they are a little too sweet for this recipe. Vidalia also happens to be my favorite onion. 🙂
Miranda
Can this recipe be prepped the night before? Or is that not ideal? I’ve made this recipe before and it is wonderful.
Mary Neumann
Yes it can, Miranda.
Barbara Porter
Hi I’ve been making this recipe for my children since they were old enough to use a spoon they’re all grown now and they’re fifties and this is the recipe I’ve always used I never use the molasses though I always use brown sugar everything else in this recipe is the way I make it just like you except the brown sugar I love it thank you for putting this recipe out I’ve had my friends try to duplicate it but they never could they said they followed the recipe to the T so I don’t know but I tell them just follow the recipe and you should have no problem I think sometimes they don’t follow the recipe in that other things haha thank you
Sara
This is my go to baked bean recipe. Whole family loves it and they go perfect with anything! If you are thinking about making these, please do!! You will not be disappointed!