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a wooden spoonful of Southern baked beans in a cast iron skillet
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Easy Southern Baked Beans

These Easy Southern Baked Beans is the best authentic recipe perfect for your BBQ or cookout. This classic dish is made with canned beans, bacon, and your favorite BBQ sauce. 
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Southern
Keyword baked beans with bacon, best baked beans recipe, Southern baked beans
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 267kcal
Author Brandi Crawford

Equipment

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
  • 1/2 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 1/2 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 1/2 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 1/4 cup.
  • You can omit the liquid smoke, it's the secret star that adds flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 2g