Canned Baked Beans Recipe with Bacon

Name: Canned Baked Beans Recipe with Bacon and Molasses
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 90 min
Ingredients: 2 strips cooked bacon (chopped and pre-cooked); 40 oz canned baked beans; 1 onion (chopped); 2 Tbsp yellow mustard; ¼ cup molasses; 1 Tbsp brown sugar; 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Are you ready for my Canned Baked Beans Recipe with Bacon AND Molasses? Even better, this delicious BBQ side uses baked beans in a can.

Yes, you heard me right. One of my favorite baked beans for a crowd and potluck uses canned baked beans.

Now before you go all food snob on me, let me tell you why you need to make this recipe…

these beans cook with bacon. You don’t have to read any further if that’s all you need. I get you, bacon lovers.
molasses is the secret, underutilized ingredient. Why don’t we use this more often?
This is my mom’s recipe, straight out of her vintage metal recipe box and the here’s the real kicker – it’s TYPED on a notecard. Can you say organized?

My recipes are a hot mess floating around various places. There are some recipes in my head, a stack on my desk, a few lucky recipes in a binder, and quite possibly one or two under the couch.

I blame the toddlers for all items hidden under the couch.

Meanwhile, Mom’s recipes are typed AND organized with tabs for each of her recipe categories.

My Mom is Wonder Woman.

She’s also a saint because she loaded me her recipe boxes with permission to share some of her fashioned, test of time proven recipes.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small commission at no expense to you.)

How to improve canned baked beans

What I love about this canned baked beans recipe, besides the bacon, is that they transform the average can of beans to a savory, hearty, perfect side dish for grilling season.

The molasses adds a wonderful complexity.

And the bacon – well, have you ever had anything that wasn’t tastier with bacon?

There’s some bite from the chopped onion and a tang from the mustard.

Some sweetness from a touch of brown sugar.

What’s not to love?

I mean – As far as I know, there’s no rule that says you can’t make delicious food using shortcuts.

Canned baked beans hacks for the win!

Can you put canned beans in slow cooker?

Absolutely! You can make the entire recipe in the slow cooker. I like to cook the bacon ahead of time in a skillet.

If you notice the beans seem runny, thicken baked beans in a crock pot by removing the lid about 30 minutes before serving. This allows some of the liquid to evaporate.

You can find instructions to make the baked beans slow cooker recipe below!

How do you reheat baked beans in a crock pot?

Do you know how sloppy joe sandwiches and spaghetti sauce taste even better the next day?

Well, the same goes for baked beans recipes!

You can totally make these a day ahead and reheat them in the slow cooker until warmed through.

What goes well with my canned baked beans recipe?

I love making baked beans for a crowd, especially at summertime BBQs. These beans are great with BBQ pulled pork, turkey burgers, beef, burgers – really as a side to anything you’d throw on the grill.

Coleslaw and a creamy potato salad recipe seem like a natural foodie match too!

Cook these in the oven or make baked beans in the slow cooker. Either way, you should make them.

Your family and friends will love them when you kick off your grilling season!

Other summertime and potluck recipes you’ll love:

Made with love,
Deanne