Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (2024)

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These Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans have a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, loaded with smoky crispy bacon, and a perfect side dish to feed a crowd!

Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (1)

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This sweet and savory baked bean recipe is a perfect side dish for so many different meals like mySlow Cooker BBQPulled Porkor myOven Baked Ribs! With only 15 minutes of prep, this is a huge hit for all the summer barbecues coming up.

Why this recipe works

This is a simple recipe for all your summer gatherings these baked beans are a summertime side dishes everybody loves like mySouthern Potato Salad. A little sweetness with a little spice is the perfect combination side dish for myBacon Wrapped Hot Dogs! They're sure to be gobbled up at your next backyard barbecue or potluck.

Ingredients needed for this baked beans recipe

Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (2)

Notes

  • Beans:Pork and beans, drained if you prefer less sauce.
  • Bacon:I like to use smoky bacon.
  • Barbecue sauce:Use whatever your favorite jarred bbq sauce is or your own homemade sauce.
  • Hot Sauce:I use Louisiana's pure hot sauce but you use whatever you prefer for your heat level.
  • Brown sugar: Both light and dark brown sugar will work.
  • Liquid smoke:If you want a smokey flavor add a couple drops.
  • Mustard:Yellow mustard adds the perfect amount of tang!

How to make these sweet and spicy baked beans

Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (3)
  • Step 1:In a small bowl add the sauce ingredients and mix until combined.
  • Step 2:Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat and add the diced bacon, cook until par-cooked and remove to a paper towel.
Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (4)
  • Step 3:Add in the diced onion and saute just until soft, add in the garlic.
  • Step 4:Pour in the beans with the sauce mixture and give it a stir.
Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (6)

Recipe tips

  • Here is the link to my favoritecast iron panthat I use for just about everything. I love that I can use it on the stove, in the oven, and on the grill. The beans stay warmer for longer in the cast iron skillet, nobody likes cold beans.
  • Do not drain the pork and beans if you prefer saucier baked beans.
Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (7)

Recipe Faq's

Why do I need to par-cook the bacon?

Par-cooked bacon is best to ensure it will be crispy when the beans are done baking

Can I make these baked beans ahead of time?

Yes, you can prep everything the day before and then pop it into the oven. Or you can bake them up to 2 days before and then pop them in the oven to warm them up, but in this case I do recommend leaving most of the sauce from the pork and beans, they do firm up quite a bit after refrigeration.

What if I dont have an oven-safe skillet?

No problem! Just transfer everything to an 8x8 or 9x13 baking dish then pop them in the oven when ready.

Can I make these in the slow cooker?

Sure, You'll want to cook the bacon fully, set it aside and add the crispy bacon on top of the baked beans after they are done cooking in the slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours. If your slow cooker cooks really hot give them a stir about halfway through.

Can I freeze baked beans?

Sure, can! Let them cool completely and place them in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.

More potluck recipes

  • Broccoli Salad with Bacon
  • Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
  • Ham and Cheese Hash Brown Casserole
  • Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans

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Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (12)

Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans

Wendie

These baked beans have a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, loaded with smoky crispy bacon, and a perfect side dish to feed a crowd!

4.50 from 32 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Sides

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 561 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2- 28 oz cans Pork N Beans
  • 1/2 onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoons hot sauce
  • 1-2 drops of Liquid smoke optional
  • 6-8 slices bacon cut into pieces
  • Fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees

  • In a large bowl whisk the ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and liquid smoke until combined. Set aside

  • Open the cans of beans and pour off 1/2 of the standing liquid

  • Heat a large 12-in cast iron or oven-safe skillet on medium heat, add the bacon pieces, and cook until partially done. Remove and set aside on a paper towel. Add the onions to the bacon fat and cook until soft about 2 minutes add the garlic and cook until fragrant.

  • Add the pork and beans to the garlic and onions, Pour in the sauce and mix until combined.

  • Add the partially cooked bacon on top.

  • Bake for 1 hour or until thick and bubbly. Then switch the oven to broil and cook another 2-3 minutes to crisp up the bacon. Sprinkle fresh parsley. Serve warm

Notes

If you want your beans to be more saucy, don't drain any liquid from the pork and beans.

Liquid smoke is optional but does add a nice smoky flavor.

Barbecue sauce:Use whatever your favorite jarred bbq sauce is or your own homemade sauce.

Hot Sauce:I use Louisiana's pure hot sauce but you use whatever you prefer for your heat level.

Nutrition

Serving: 6ServingsCalories: 561kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 78gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 248mgSodium: 661mgFiber: 2gSugar: 28g

Keyword Baked beans, potluck sides

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Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe | Butter Your Biscuit (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to Bush's baked beans to make them better? ›

Stir together baked beans, onion, syrup, brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard in a large bowl. Pour into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Lay bacon slices across the top. Bake in the preheated oven until the bacon is browned and the beans have thickened, 35 to 40 minutes.

How to spice up your baked beans? ›

A few ideas:
  1. Rinse the beans.
  2. Spice (cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder) and warm them up.
  3. Mix with other ingredients (add vegetables, cooked rice, pasta, or use them as a filling for wraps or tacos)
  4. Mix with your own sauce (onion+bell pepper+carrot+canned tomatoes)
Aug 3, 2023

What can I add to baked beans that are too sweet? ›

ANSWER: You're on the right track, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce or even a teaspoon or more of white vinegar can help to balance out the sweetness from too much brown sugar.

What is the secret to soft baked beans? ›

soak them about 20 hours. Depending on how much water they soak up you may add more halfway through - if you set them soaking in the early evening, check them in the morning. drain, rinse, and then boil for about two hours, checking to see if they are soft.

How do you enhance the flavor of canned baked beans? ›

5 Ways to Upgrade Canned Baked Beans
  1. Honey + Dijon Mustard. ...
  2. Caramelized Onion + Bacon + Espresso Powder. ...
  3. Adobo Sauce + Chorizo + Chopped Cilantro. ...
  4. Fire Roasted Tomatoes + Little Smokies + Chopped Parsley. ...
  5. Mixed Chopped Herbs + Breadcrumbs + Cheddar Cheese.
Jul 7, 2015

How can I make my beans more flavorful? ›

In addition to the usual things like garlic, onion, celery and peppers, a few unexpected additions will add a bit of flavor. Seasonings, such as chili powder (I like ancho which adds flavor more than heat.) And as most always, salt is essential. Fresh pepper is always welcome.

Which spice is best for beans? ›

In general, most beans go well with herbs like parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, and thyme. You usually can't go wrong with garlic and onions, either. Specific kinds of beans, like fava beans or mung beans, have other affinities with particular herbs and spices. This is not to say that other combinations won't work.

Why do my baked beans taste bland? ›

Overcooking can detract from the eating experience, leaving your beans bland and lifeless. Undercooking beans, on the other hand, can put yourself at risk of food-borne illness. This is especially true for red beans like kidney beans.

Why do you add baking soda to baked beans? ›

If beans make you uncomfortably gassy, sprinkle a little baking soda into their soaking water. It will reduce the volume of gas produced by the legumes, plus, they will cook quicker. If you're even shorter on time, you may want to try some of our favorite recipes to make with a can of black beans.

Why are American baked beans sweet? ›

In the 18th century, the convention of using American-made molasses as a sweetening agent became increasingly popular to avoid British taxes on sugar. Boston baked beans use a sauce prepared with molasses and salt pork, a dish whose popularity has given Boston the nickname "Beantown".

How can I make cheap baked beans taste better? ›

Here are some secrets to enhance the flavor of canned baked beans: 1. **Add Sweetness:** Homemade baked beans often have a balance of sweetness, so consider adding brown sugar, maple syrup, or molasses to the canned beans. Start with a small amount and taste as you go to achieve the desired level of sweetness.

What does adding sugar to beans do? ›

First of all, salt and sugar provide a little bit of added flavor to our beans. Now, they are so tasty they hardly need any help. But, as the saying goes, a little bit of sugar and spice makes everything nice! Secondly, and more importantly, salt and sugar as used primarily as a natural preservative.

Why are my homemade baked beans hard? ›

The main reason for beans that are still hard after cooking is the quality of the beans. Drying beans preserves them for a long time, but not forever. Even if you just got them, they may have been sitting in the grocery store for months or longer. Choose dried goods from stores with a lot of turnover.

Why won't my beans soften baking soda? ›

Baking soda can help significantly since it increases the pH of the water, disintegrating that pectin and allowing beans to soften quicker. Baking soda also removes minerals from hard water, which can prevent beans from hydrating as quickly.

Does adding baking soda help soften beans? ›

The addition of baking soda to the cooking water does two things: It adds sodium ions that weaken the pectin as explained above, and more importantly, an alkaline environment causes the pectin molecules to break down into smaller molecules that greatly weakens the pectin causing the beans to soften much more rapidly.

What makes Bush's baked beans so good? ›

The beans that are met with smiles at any gathering. Bush's® Original Baked Beans are a Secret Family Recipe of navy beans slow-cooked with specially cured bacon, fine brown sugar and our signature blend of spices.

What is the difference between Bush's homestyle and original baked beans? ›

Our Homestyle Baked Beans are deliciously tomato-based—which makes them a bit tangier than the original—with brown sugar, bold spices and a specially cured bacon.

Do you rinse Bush's baked beans? ›

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish.

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