Description
Classic Southern baked beans highlight the rich, smoky flavors of the American South with a perfect balance of sweet and tangy notes. Hearty beans simmered with bacon, brown sugar, and spices create a comforting side dish that families adore.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (15 oz / 425 g) cans pork and beans (do not drain)
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Render bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp and golden, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, preserving the flavorful drippings.
- Onion Infusion: Sauté diced onions in the bacon fat until translucent and softened, developing a sweet, caramelized undertone.
- Flavor Fusion: Combine pork and beans with ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, garlic powder, and paprika in a large mixing bowl, creating a complex flavor profile that balances sweet, tangy, and savory notes.
- Ingredient Integration: Incorporate sautéed onions and most of the crispy bacon into the bean mixture, ensuring an even distribution of textures and flavors.
- Baking Arrangement: Pour the bean mixture into a greased baking dish, spreading evenly to promote consistent cooking and maximum flavor absorption.
- Final Embellishment: Sprinkle remaining bacon pieces across the surface, adding a crisp, textural contrast to the creamy bean base.
- Oven Transformation: Bake uncovered in a preheated oven until the beans develop a glossy, slightly caramelized top and bubble with intense, rich flavors characteristic of traditional Southern cuisine.
Notes
- Bacon Crispness Control: Cook bacon slowly and evenly to achieve perfect golden crunchiness without burning, which can introduce bitter flavors.
- Fat Management: Reserve bacon drippings carefully for sautéing onions, as they provide rich, deep flavor foundation for the entire dish.
- Flavor Balancing Act: Adjust sweet and tangy elements like brown sugar and vinegar to personal preference, ensuring harmonious taste profile without overwhelming other ingredients.
- Baking Precision: Use a shallow baking dish to maximize surface area for caramelization, creating that signature glossy, slightly charred top characteristic of authentic Southern baked beans.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg