Does someone know how to make store-bought baked beans taste like they were made from scratch? It’s a simple trick that will make any side dish taste better, and no one will ever find out.
This feels wickedly unfair. Because it’s not really a recipe to me–but I know what the reality is:
There’s an easy way to make those canned baked goods taste more like home-cooked food, though. In fact, I do it with only three simple ingredients and a few minutes in the oven.
These canned baked beans came with ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar. You could add barbecue sauce if you wanted to, and the bacon on top is also not necessary. It looks and tastes like your sneaky side dish has never been in a can, that’s all.
Baked beans are a classic side dish for backyard barbecues and summer picnics. But plain canned baked beans can be boring and bland. Luckily, with just a few simple ingredients, you can transform a basic tin of beans into something truly delicious.
In this article, I’ll share 14 easy ways to boost the flavor of canned baked beans and take them from mediocre to marvelous.
Add Sweet and Savory Flavors
Canned baked beans are often very sweet, Balance out the sweetness by adding ingredients that provide depth of flavor
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Bacon – Fry up some bacon until crispy, then crumble it over the beans. The saltiness balances the sweetness.
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Worcestershire Sauce – Just a splash of this savory condiment adds lots of umami flavor.
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Barbecue Sauce – For a delicious smoky taste, stir in your favorite barbecue sauce.
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Molasses – For deep, rich sweetness reminiscent of Boston baked beans, mix in a tablespoon or two of molasses.
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Maple Syrup – Pure maple syrup adds sweetness with an earthy twist.
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Mustard – Yellow, Dijon, honey, or brown mustard all add tang
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Vinegars – A splash of cider, balsamic, red wine, or rice vinegar brightens up the beans.
Spice It Up
Don’t be afraid to add some zip and zing to your beans with spices and heat.
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Chili Powder – A teaspoon or more gives a mild kick of heat and smokiness.
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Cayenne Pepper – Add just a pinch for background spiciness.
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Smoked Paprika – Imparts an addictive smoky flavor.
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Curry Powder – For an exotic flavor twist, stir in 1-2 teaspoons of mild or hot curry powder.
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Hot Sauce – Dash in hot sauce like Tabasco, Cholula, or Sriracha to taste.
Take Inspiration from Classics
Recreate the flavors of famous regional baked bean styles:
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Boston-Style – Molasses, mustard, brown sugar, salt pork.
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Cowboy-Style – Bacon, onion, bell pepper, chili powder, barbecue sauce.
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New England-Style – Maple syrup, salt pork, cloves, allspice.
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Memphis-Style – Smoked meat like ham hocks, barbecue sauce, brown sugar.
Make it Meaty
Beans love the richness and saltiness of cured or smoked meats.
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Bacon – Fry it up crisp, then crumble over beans.
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Ham – Dice up leftover ham and sauté with onions.
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Sausage – Cook and crumble spicy sausage like chorizo or andouille.
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Hot Dogs – Slice and sauté franks for kid-friendly flavor.
Give it Texture
Add chunky mix-ins for more body and crunch:
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Onion – Diced raw onion adds bite. Caramelized onions are deliciously sweet.
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Bell Pepper – Dice red, yellow, or orange peppers for flavor and texture.
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Mushrooms – Sauté sliced mushrooms before adding to beans.
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Corn – Niblets of corn add sweetness and texture.
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Potatoes – Diced potatoes add starchy thickness.
Make it Creamy
Stir in creamy ingredients to give a smoother, richer texture.
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Sour Cream – Just a dollop or two does the trick.
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Cream Cheese – Softened cream cheese blends right in.
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Cheddar Cheese – Grated extra-sharp cheddar adds sharp flavor.
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Monterey Jack – Melty Mexican cheese works well with spicy beans.
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Parmesan – Grated parm gives a tasty umami boost.
Freshen it Up
Bright ingredients like fresh herbs and citrus add vibrancy.
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Cilantro – Chopped cilantro leaves give a Mexican flair.
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Parsley – Fresh parsley balances richness.
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Chives– Minced chives provide oniony flavor.
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Lemon Juice – A squirt of lemon juice brightens the beans.
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Lime Juice – Lime adds tropical zing.
Bake Them Up
For super creamy beans, bake them in the oven:
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Pour beans into a casserole dish.
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Mix in desired seasonings and toppings.
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Top with chopped bacon or crushed crackers/breadcrumbs.
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Bake at 375°F until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes.
FAQs
How long do I bake canned beans?
Bake at 375°F for 30-45 minutes until piping hot. Check frequently to prevent burning.
What goes good with baked beans?
Burgers, hot dogs, smoked meat, coleslaw, cornbread, potato salad, fried chicken, pulled pork.
How do you keep baked beans from being watery?
Simmer uncovered to reduce liquid. Add thickener like cornstarch, flour, or mashed beans.
Do you drain the juice from canned beans?
For saucier beans, keep the bean juice. For drier beans, drain and rinse before cooking.
Take Beans from Bland to Bold
With just a few extra ingredients, canned baked beans can transform into something delicious. Take inspiration from classic regional styles, add meaty, spicy, or creamy mix-ins, and bake until hot and bubbly. Your next backyard BBQ or potluck will be better with these easy bean flavor boosters.
How to cook canned baked beans
That’s simple. You can use any dish that can go in the oven and mix the baked beans, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar right in. Then bake until they are hot all the way through and bubbling around the edges.
The baked beans will get a little sticky crust around the edges as they cook, which makes them look like they’ve been in the oven for a long time.
Can baked beans be cooked on the stove?
You can heat them just in a pot on the stove, but–meh–not as good. Putting the beans in the oven until they dry out and caramelize won’t give them the look or taste of slow cooking.
And you can’t add bacon to the top when you cook them stovetop. But I think the taste is pretty much the same, so if you’re in a hurry, it will work.
But if you have time, bake them for 20 minutes. It will be worth it.
