The Best Baked Bean Recipe
Ready for the Best Baked Bean Recipe of all time? These homemade baked beans with kidney and butter beans are sweet with a kick of vinegar, and so easy to make. They’ll have your whole family asking for more!
Growing up, my sisters and I would eat these homemade baked beans at almost every summer cookout along with classic sides like Easy Potato Salad, Creamy Corn Salsa, and One Pan Potatoes. A longtime favorite, these beans are tangy, tender, and perfectly sauced.
My mom would always add browned ground beef and crispy bacon for extra protein and flavor, too. Seeing as how I rarely eat red meat, I now prefer to add grilled chicken sausage links.
However, you can add any protein you want, or leave it out completely. Either way, this recipe is sure to become a staple at all your summer gatherings!
Recipe Ingredients
- Sweet Onion – This adds extra depth and a sweet flavor to the beans.
- Beans – I use a combination of three types of beans for lots of texture, flavor, and plant-based protein. This includes kidney beans, butter beans, and vegetarian baked beans.
- Ketchup – I use Heinz brand, but any ketchup you like best will work.
- Light Brown Sugar – This enhances the sweetness of the dish, creating a classic flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – The acidity helps balance some of the sweetness and adds a nice tangy taste to the beans.
- Seasonings – Dry mustard powder, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper enhance the rest of the ingredients and add depth to the beans.
- Worcestershire Sauce – This is key to creating that rich smokey flavor we look for in baked beans!
- Chicken Broth – Use as much or as little as needed to adjust the sauce to your desired consistency. I always recommend using low-sodium varieties so you have more control over the amount of sodium in the dish. Or, feel free to use vegetable stock to keep this recipe vegan.
- Optional Protein – This is the best baked beans recipe you’ll ever taste with or without meat. However, if you want to bulk it up, feel free to include cooked ground beef, bacon, grilled chicken sausage links, or any meat you like best. If you do use beef or bacon, be sure to drain off excess fat before adding it to the beans. Otherwise, they’re likely to become too greasy.
Health Benefits of Beans
Not only are they extremely versatile and affordable, but beans are also loaded with fiber, protein, and antioxidants. In addition, kidney beans have even been shown to decrease the rise in blood pressure after a meal.
How to Make the Best Baked Beans Recipe
- Sweat the onion. Lightly grease a large sauté pan with cooking spray. Add the diced sweet onion, and sweat over medium heat until it’s translucent.
- Combine the ingredients. Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans, butter beans, and one can of baked beans with the sauce. Next, add the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, mustard powder, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, a pinch of kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add the protein. Add your protein option of choice, if desired.
- Simmer. Stir to combine, and simmer over low heat for 35-45 minutes or until the beans have softened and the sauce has thickened up. Make sure to stir occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan!
- Adjust. Add more broth as needed if the sauce is too thick for your liking. Then, serve hot from the pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I serve baked kidney beans? Enjoy these baked beans with kidney beans as a side dish with all your favorite main courses like sandwiches, grilled chicken, hot dogs, burgers, or ribs.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time? Yes, store any leftover beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat it in the microwave in 30-minute increments until warmed through.
Can I freeze leftovers? Yes, this recipe will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 6 months! Thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to serve.
How to Store
Store any leftover beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for four to five days. Reheat in the microwave until heated through. Serve as a dish dish with sandwiches, grilled chicken or ribs. Looking for more delicious side dishes?
Try my easy Italian pasta salad or my one pan potatoes. Both are great side dish recipes for any occasion.
The BEST Baked Bean Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Dutch oven with lid
- 1 colander
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweet onion, diced small
- 1 can kidney beans, 15.5 ounce can, rinsed and drained
- 1 can butter beans, 15.5 ounce can, rinsed and drained
- 1 can vegetarian baked beans, 16 ounce can Bush's vegetarian baked beans, with sauce
- ¾ cup ketchup, Heinz brand
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1.5 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ – ½ cup chicken broth, vegetable broth works too
- pinch kosher salt, to taste
- pinch cracked black pepper , to taste
Instructions
Saute the Onions
- Lightly spray a large sauté pan with cooking spray. Add the diced sweet and sweat until translucent.
Combine
- Add the drained and rinsed kidney beans, butter beans, and 1 can of the baked beans (with sauce). Next, add the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, mustard powder, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, pinch kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Stir well. Option to add protein of choice. Grilled chicken sausage coins, browned ground beef, or crispy bacon all work well.
Simmer
- Let everything simmer over low heat on the stovetop for 35-45 minutes or until the beans have softened and the sauce has thickened up. Make sure to stir occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan. If the sauce gets too thick, add a touch more broth. Serve hot from the pan.
One Comment on “The Best Baked Bean Recipe”
Made this for a family cookout Memorial Day weekend and it was a hit!! Great flavor and easy too!!