I just realized the other day that I had not posted a recipe for traditional baked beans. I had posted my Beefy Baked Bean Bake and my Spicy Barbeque Beans, and while they are both really good, they are very different than just classic baked beans. I love good baked beans, but baked beans tend to fall in the same category as meatloaf and cornbread...everybody in the South makes them, but very few make them that turn out great!
I have been to my share of church potlucks, after funeral dinners, and other gatherings where baked beans make a usual appearance and have sampled many. Here is what I usually notice that goes wrong... cooked way too long, cooked way too little, too little seasoning and brown sugar, too much 'stuff' in them, no bacon for seasoning, way too dry, and that is just a few.
Here is what you will need for these baked beans:
4 (15oz.) cans of pork and beans (I prefer Campbell's) or 2 (28 oz.) cans baked beans (like Busch Baked Beans) Do not drain.
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup real maple syrup
2 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs. yellow mustard
dash of Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup sweet onion, diced fine
4-5 slices of bacon, uncooked
Spray a 2 1/2 or 3 quart casserole with nonstick spray. Mix the ketchup, brown sugar, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, and Tabasco sauce. If you don't have real maple syrup, use what you have, but the real syrup is best for the flavoring.
Mix with the beans (undrained) and then stir in the diced onion. I do remove any of the 'pork' or whatever that is in the can of beans. There is usually 1 piece of fatty looking meat in each can.
Place in the casserole dish and lay the uncooked bacon over the top.
Place in a 350 degree oven for 55 minutes to an hour. Remove from oven. If you want to keep warm, cover tightly with foil or the glass casserole lid. Baked beans dry out fast if left uncovered, especially in the oven, even if it's off. I am convinced this is where a lot of good baked beans are ruined.
This makes a nice size dish of baked beans for company or to take to a cookout, if you are making baked beans for a smaller family, just make half of this recipe.
Wow! Sounds like a great recipe to use in my bean pot. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteOh Sweetie, you must live in the wrong part of the South if you think that you are one of the few that makes really great baked beans! lol Seriously, besides my Mama's, the best I've ever eaten came from a LOT of great cooks in Alabama! I don't think I was ever disappointed.....ever! when I lived up North, it seemed that no one made them sweet enough. I believe they are afraid of brown sugar! lol Love your posts
ReplyDeleteYou misread what I wrote, I never claimed to be one of the few who made 'great' baked beans. I merely stated that several folks make some not so good baked beans. I have no idea how good your baked beans or anyone else's are in Alabama..lol. I have eaten some very good baked beans in my time also and they were not all cooked by me for sure!
DeleteI think what cisanana was referring to is that More than a few in the south can cook really good Baked Beans. Your recipe sounds like mine. Keep up the good work.
DeleteThis is close to how I fix mine.I add green pepper.Asked for at all our outings!
ReplyDeleteDo you cook them uncovered?
ReplyDeleteI love baked beans and my mom is from the South so we had them like this but I think over the years she tried to make it easier and would use bacon grease without the bacon and cook it like this in a pot on the top of the stove, now don't get me wrong they were great but there is just something about having the bacon in them that does something to the taste. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteEveryone says I make great baked beans and that is always the dish I am requested to bring to any pot luck meal. I do not use Tabasco...not everyone likes hot or spicy...and I do not use maple syrup. I do drain and rinse my beans to get more taste value from the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, mustard and ketchup. I adapted my recipe to this so my diabetic son could still enjoy one of his favorites. Oh, and I cook mine in the microwave. No one has ever been able to tell the difference in the taste!
ReplyDeleteWhat changes do you make to your recipe? I've been looking for one to make because I've had a craving for some good ole baked beans. I am nine months pregnant with GDM so anything I can find or make southern food wise is a blessing to me.
DeleteThanks!
I live in Canada but I am from the South and everybody up here loves my baked beans!! They beg for them at every pot blessing!
ReplyDeleteVery good beens love home made bsans
ReplyDeleteThis is the way I make mine although I do not use Tabasco. Sometime for a change I will add a few green peppers. The bacon on top is a must for me.
ReplyDelete