Best Baked Beans is a blend of baked beans and special flavors. Making baked beans from scratch is so easy, you will have wished you have done it sooner! These beans are very versatile and can be made in a slow cooker or baked in the oven.
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Ingredients
- Pork and beans - the store brand beans can be used
- Hamburger - cooked ground beef with added salt and pepper
- Mustard - ground dry mustard
- Brown sugar - packed
- Ketchup - any brand
- Cumin - this will add a smoky flavor to the beans
If you want a smoky flavor, add more cumin. Of course, cooked bacon would be a great addition and it would add a smoky flavor as well. If you want less sweet, adjust the brown sugar and ketchup.
How to make baked beans
This recipe could not be easier. After all, all you need to do is fry up the ground beef and mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Then, place all ingredients into a square 9 inch baking dish or the crock pot.
Crock pot or oven?
So the question most have is do I have to cook these beans in the oven or can I pop them in the crock pot. Well, rest assured, they can be cooked in either.
To cook in the crock pot, mix all ingredients together and place in a small crock pot on low for 3 hours. You will want to make sure to stir the beans every hour or so, so it is not a walk and away and forget it type of recipe.
If you want to cook the baked beans in the oven, mix all ingredients and place in a square 9 inch casserole dish, covered with foil. You will then bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
Picnic ideas
Be sure to keep them warm in the crock pot if you take them to a picnic or gathering. If you don't have a crock pot, and bake them in the oven, using a carrier like this one will help to keep the beans warm.
Leftovers
Leftovers need to be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Other picnic recipe favorites
Creamy Hawaiian Salad is another great picnic favorite. As well as Easy Cucumber Salad. These absolutely best baked beans would be great at a picnic, Memorial Day, 4th of July or a potluck or gathering.
I made them in the oven, but for my son's 8th grade promotion, I am going to make them in the slow cooker. Both ways work and taste great!
📖 Recipe
Best Baked Beans
Print PinEquipment
- 1 9 inch square baking dish
Ingredients
- 32 oz pork and beans
- 1 lb cooked hamburger
- 1 T ground mustard
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoon cumin
Instructions
Oven Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Mix all ingredients together and place in 9 inch square casserole dish.
- Bake at 375* for 30 minutes.
Crock Pot Instructions
- If you want to cook in a crock pot, put all ingredients together in a crock pot and cook on low for 3 hours. Stir the mixture every hour or so.
Pam says
YUM!! These were a big hit!! Only thing I didn’t have, was the cumin…Not sure what that adds to the flavor though, because these bad boys were perfect, without it!!
Kim says
I'm so glad you liked them! They are a favorite here and they are so easy to make. The cumin would add a slightly smoky flavor to the beans. But it is great without it too!:-)
Mary Jo Gordon says
Could these be made with Bush's original baked beans?
Kim says
Yes they can. However, Bush's baked beans has seasonings already on the beans. So depending on your tastes, the beans may seem a bit overpowering if you add more.
I have used Bush's before and we were fine with it. It is personal preference.
Vicki says
Do you drain the beans?
Kim says
No, don't drain the beans.
Jerry Badeaux says
I use breakfast sausage instead of hamburger meat, makes a big improvement in the taste. We love this recipe.
Kim says
Sausage sounds delicious in this recipe! Thanks for sharing!!
Theresa says
Made this recipe today, Mothet'sDay, and everybody liked it. I did cut back a little on the brown sugar cause I thought it would be too sweet but they still turned out delicious. Thank you.
Kim says
I am so glad you liked them!
Rachel says
What kind of pork and beans do you use?
Kim says
You can use any pork and beans. I use Aldi's brand. I find it to be the best price. You can use Campbell's or Van Camp's as well.
Quanessa says
I pinned this to my 4th of July board. I will be making this soon. Thank you!
Kim says
I hope you enjoy it!!
Nicole says
Should the ground beef be cooked first b4 adding to the mixture?
Sarah says
Yes, cook the ground beef before adding it to the beans. I hope you enjoy it!! :-)
Jerri says
How much does this make?
Sarah says
I would say 6-8 servings. When we had family over (about 20 people) I doubled the servings and placed it all in my small crock pot. It was just about right.
Laurie says
What size of canned beans were used? Thanks.
Sarah says
The cans are 16 oz each. Sorry about that! :-)
susan litwiller says
These are great also cooked in a cast iron pan over a fir.e
Sarah says
Great idea! The boys in my family love to camp out. I'll have to encourage my husband to try it with them. :-)