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–+ servings

Baked Beans

 Cost $9.01 recipe / $0.90 serving
4.86 from 7 votes
These baked beans combine the simplicity of canned beans with bacon and a sweet, smoky, and tangy homemade BBQ sauce.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
Author: Beth Moncel
Overhead view of baked beans in the skillet with a wooden spoon.
Servings 10 ½ cup each
Prep 5 minutes
Cook 1 hour 25 minutes
Total 1 hour 30 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 8 oz. bacon ($3.06)
  • 3 15oz. cans Great Northern Beans ($3.00*)
  • 15 oz. tomato sauce ((1 can) $1.06)
  • ¼ cup tomato paste ($0.31)
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar ($0.17)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar ($0.16)
  • ¼ cup molasses ($0.77)
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard ($0.05)
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce ($0.03)
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika ($0.20)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder ($0.10)
  • ½ tsp onion powder ($0.05)
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ($0.03)
  • ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.02)

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cut the bacon into 1-inch pieces and cook in a skillet over medium heat until brown and crispy. Drain off all but 1-2 Tbsp of the bacon fat.
  • Drain the canned beans well, then add them to the skillet and stir to combine with the bacon.
  • Add the remaining ingredients: tomato sauce, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne and black pepper.** Stir until everything is very well combined.
  • Bake the beans for 60-75 minutes, stirring once at 30 minutes and again at 60 minutes. If the sauce is thick at 60 minutes, it's done. If it's still a bit runny, bake 10-15 minutes longer.
  • Serve hot with your other favorite comfort foods!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet

Notes

*Dried beans can also be used, but you must soak and cook them first before using (use about 4.5 cups once cooked).
**Store-bought BBQ sauce can often be overly sweet and doesn't pack much of a flavorful punch. This homemade BBQ sauce has a bold flavor and just the right tangy, sweet, and savory flavor. You can try a store-bought sauce in this recipe (about about 2-2½ cups), but note the result will likely be different.
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Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 307kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 13gFat: 10gSodium: 446mgFiber: 7g
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