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Home » Southern Style Soul Food Recipes

Southern Baked Beans with Bacon

Published: May 24, 2022 · Modified: Jul 1, 2025 by staysnatched · This post may contain affiliate links · 24 Comments

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I grew up learning how to cook by watching my great-grandmother bring Southern staples to life, and these baked beans are straight out of that playbook. With family roots in Louisiana and Mississippi, I’ve held onto the bold, rich flavors she taught me to love—and this recipe is exactly how we made baked beans in our house growing up.

a wooden spoonful of Southern baked beans in a cast iron skillet

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.

The bacon gets nice and crispy on top while the beans soak up all that rich, tangy sauce. It’s simple to throw together but tastes like you spent all day on it. Let me show you how to make ’em just right.

When it comes to Southern-style side dishes, I may love the sides and appetizers more than the main dishes!

This is truly the best soul food baked beans recipe you will find! It's loaded with hickory smoked flavor, making it perfect for any BBQ or cookout pairing.

Table of Contents

  • Key Ingredients
  • What Type of BBQ Sauce to Use
  • How to Make Southern Baked Beans with Bacon
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Pair This Dish with These Main Dishes
  • More Southern Side Dishes
  • Southern Baked Beans with Bacon
    • Want to save this recipe for later?
    • Equipment
    • Ingredients  1x2x3x
    • Instructions 
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition
    • Nutrition Data

Key Ingredients

  • Canned Baked Beans
  • Bacon
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • BBQ Sauce
  • Ketchup
  • Chili Powder
  • Brown Sweetener or Sugar
canned beans, chili powder, brown sugar, garlic, and liquid smoke in separate bowls

What Type of BBQ Sauce to Use

This is probably the most important ingredient in the recipe! Your baked beans need BBQ flavor. Use your favorite sauce! I like to use our local Kansas City Gates BBQ Sauce, but any of your favorite sauce will work.

raw onions and bacon in a cast iron skillet

How to Make Southern Baked Beans with Bacon

Detailed instructions and serving sizes can be found in the recipe card below.

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

  1. Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and add bacon and chopped onions. Cook.
  2. Drain any excess fat. Add in garlic and stir.
  3. Add in beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, liquid smoke, chili powder, and brown sugar or sweetener.
  4. Bake.
cooked bacon and onions in a cast iron skillet
baked beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, and brown sugar in a cast iron skillet

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Beans Sweet?

I like for a moderate taste of sweetness so I use 3 tablespoons of brown sugar or sweetener. If you want them to be really sweet use ¼ cup.

Are They Spicy?

I love to serve mine with a kick because the combination with brown sugar and bacon is just out of this world! I don't find chili powder spicy, but some people do! So if you don't want spicy beans omit the chili powder or start with ½ teaspoon and continue to adjust to taste.

What Type of Pan to Use

I love to use a cast iron skillet. That's the traditional Southern way and you can make everything in one pan since cast irons are oven safe.

You can also use a 9x13 baking dish.

How to Make a Large Pan for a Crowd

This recipe will make 8 servings, but you can easily double or triple that by doubling the ingredients used in the recipe. You will need to bake the beans at least 10 minutes longer, but maybe even a little more. Use your judgment and check in on the texture of the beans to determine if they have finished cooking.

Can You Make Them Ahead?

Yes, you can make these ahead. Allow the beans to cool and place them in a tightly sealed container in the fridge. They will last up to 4 days.

Can You Add Ground Beef?

Absolutely! This is another common way to make Southern baked beans. You can add in a pound of ground beef at the same time that you add the bacon. If you are omitting the bacon, you can simply add it in it's place.

How to Make them Vegetarian

Make sure to grab vegetarian baked beans. From there, you can simply omit the bacon used in this recipe.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze these in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight. I love to reheat these in the oven or air fryer on 350 degrees until warm.

How to Reheat

I love to reheat these in the oven or air fryer on 350 degrees until warm.

Southern baked beans in a cast iron skillet
Southern baked beans in a cast iron skillet
a wooden spoonful of Southern baked beans in a cast iron skillet

Pair This Dish with These Main Dishes

Air Fryer Ribs
Air Fryer Catfish
Traeger Smoked Salmon
Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs
How to Grill the Best Burgers
How to Grill Chicken Wings
Grilled Baby Back Ribs

More Southern Side Dishes

Southern Coleslaw
Southern Potato Salad
Southern Mustard Greens
Southern Homemade Cornbread

Easy Spaghetti Salad
Southern Macaroni Salad
Southern Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese

If you want to make beans without using canned, check out my Instant Pot Baked Beans.

Check out a listing of all Southern Soul Food Recipes the Best Authentic Soul Food Recipes here.

a wooden spoonful of Southern baked beans in a cast iron skillet

Southern Baked Beans with Bacon

Brandi Crawford
I grew up learning how to cook by watching my great-grandmother bring Southern staples to life, and these baked beans are straight out of that playbook. With family roots in Louisiana and Mississippi, I’ve held onto the bold, rich flavors she taught me to love—and this recipe is exactly how we made baked beans in our house growing up.
5 from 10 votes
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Rate this recipeLeave a review!
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Southern
Servings 8 servings
Calories 267 kcal

Want to save this recipe for later?

I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet
  • 9x13 Baking Dish

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1 cup chopped onion I use white onion.
  • 2 garlic cloves Minced.
  • 2 28oz cans baked beans I use vegetarian.
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder This amount will give the beans a kick. If you don't want a dose of spicy omit it or start with ½ teaspoon and continue to taste and build.
  • 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar or sweetener I typically use 3. See notes.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • I like to use a cast iron skillet to make everything using one pan. You can use any pan or oven safe baking dish.
  • Heat a skillet on medium high heat and add the bacon and chopped onions. Cook until the bacon is crisp and the onions are translucent and fragrant.
  • Drain any excess fat. Add in the garlic and stir.
  • Add in the beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, liquid smoke, chili powder, and brown sugar or sweetener. Stir. Taste the mixture repeatedly to ensure the flavor meets your tastes. I don't add any salt because I feel the bacon adds enough. Taste and decide if you want to add salt or any other flavor.
  • (Alternatively, you can cook your bacon separately and simply add all of the ingredients to your baking dish without sauteing them on the stove first. Sauteing the onions and garlic first is done to enhance the flavor).
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes until the beans are bubbly and the sauce has thickened.
  • Bake the beans uncovered. Place a sheet pan under your pan if you fear the mixture will drip over and seep out.
  • Remove from the oven and cool before serving.

Video

Notes

  • Macros noted assume monkfruit sweetener is used.
  • I don't completely drain the beans, but I do pour off the top layer of liquid that forms in the can.
  • I don't find chili powder spicy, but some people do! So if you don't want spicy beans omit the chili powder or start with a ½ teaspoon and continue to adjust to taste.
  • I like for a moderate taste of sweetness so I use 3 tablespoons of brown sugar or sweetener. If you want them to be really sweet use ¼ cup.
  • You can omit the liquid smoke, it's the secret star that adds flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 267kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 11gFat: 2g
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Nutrition Data

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Comments

  1. Alisan says

    May 31, 2021 at 3:04 pm

    5 stars
    Made these for our family cookout over the weekend and everyone kept talking about how much they loved them! This will now be my go to recipe for baked beans. Thank you!!!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      June 11, 2021 at 4:51 am

      You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  2. Danielle says

    June 14, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    5 stars
    Made these today and they are delicious! Easy and the best baked beans! Found my go to baked bean recipe! Thanks for the recipe Brandi!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      June 16, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  3. K. Phillips says

    June 26, 2021 at 3:39 pm

    5 stars
    Made these for a holiday cookout and they were a hit! If your family doesn't have a designated baked beans person (or, if you feel like choosing violence) bring these to the next cookout! The bbq flavor is everything.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      June 28, 2021 at 7:44 am

      I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  4. Andreé says

    July 04, 2021 at 7:39 pm

    5 stars
    These baked beans were delicious and super easy to make! This will be my go to recipe from now on!!

    Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      July 06, 2021 at 9:12 pm

      You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  5. Natalie Go says

    October 20, 2021 at 6:35 pm

    5 stars
    These are everything you want baked beans to taste like, I legit wanted to bathe in them. Absolutely delicious and very easy to make.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      October 22, 2021 at 7:44 pm

      haha, I'm glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  6. Bud says

    December 05, 2021 at 5:18 pm

    Can I make this in a slow cooker and how long do you cook them

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      December 05, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      Probably. I’ve never tried it and have no instructions.

      Reply
  7. Melis says

    April 18, 2022 at 11:05 am

    5 stars
    These turned out great! I only used half of chili powder called for but will use full amount next time!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      April 25, 2022 at 9:00 pm

      Glad to hear it!

      Reply
  8. Lucia smith says

    April 21, 2022 at 8:53 am

    5 stars
    Easy southern baked beans are nice to eat. I have tried the recipe with ghee as the baking oil. ghee clarified butter smoke point is higher than any other oil, and I like the ghee favor.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      April 25, 2022 at 12:23 pm

      Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  9. Ashley says

    May 30, 2022 at 7:10 am

    5 stars
    These are amazing! Everyone raved about them and said they tasted just like a top tier bbq joint! Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      May 30, 2022 at 2:45 pm

      I’m glad to hear everyone enjoyed them!

      Reply
  10. Chene’ says

    May 30, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    5 stars
    I made these this weekend and they were PHENOMENAL! My husband and my kids both loved them. I added ground beef along with the bacon and it really just took it to the next level. I will be making this recipe over and over.

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      May 30, 2022 at 6:12 pm

      That’s so good to hear!

      Reply
  11. Kim says

    July 02, 2022 at 3:18 am

    5 stars
    This came out great! (even though I have never been down South!)

    :O

    I'll definitely be making this again, especially when Fall weather gets here!

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      July 02, 2022 at 8:54 pm

      Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply
  12. Jesse says

    May 27, 2023 at 10:48 am

    Can you make them in a crockpot?

    Reply
    • staysnatched says

      May 27, 2023 at 10:49 am

      Probably. I haven’t done it.

      Reply
5 from 10 votes

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Welcome!

Brandi currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri and is a self-taught cook and fitness enthusiast. She is the author of The Super Easy Air Fryer Cookbook and has been featured on Good Morning America and in Women's Health Magazine, Shape, Parade, Essence, Country Living, Southern Living, BuzzFeed, Delish, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Spaces Magazine, Greatist, and more.

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