This Simple Baked Beans recipe is a lightened-up model of everybody’s favourite yard barbecue recipe. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and flavored with do-it-yourself bbq sauce, these are the BEST baked beans from scratch, in much less time!

Whereas I wish to assume that my husband married me for my irresistible appeal, girlish attractiveness, and glowing persona, I do know higher: he married me for my simple baked beans (and this Jalapeno Cornbread).
Broadly talking, he truly married me for Kansas Metropolis barbecue, of which baked beans are a important element.
Each time we head again to my hometown, at the least two barbecue runs are a compulsory a part of our journey agenda.
Again residence in Milwaukee, we survive on just a few imitator recipes of my very own (sorry Wisconsin, you simply don’t do BBQ like Kansas), amongst my favorites are at the moment’s wholesome and simple baked beans (in addition to this Grilled Corn Salad).

5 Star Evaluate
“My household beloved these beans! We paired them with smoked brisket. Will certainly make once more!”
— Bonnie —
Though I would lack the right tools, meat provide, and beard to be a severe barbecue contender, these barbecue beans nonetheless scratch our barbecue itch, and they’re all the time a certain hit at potlucks too.
I’ve full respect for conventional baked bean recipes, which begin with dried beans (like my Crockpot Baked Beans), however they take hours and are normally on the heavy aspect.
Because of canned beans (one in every of my fave pantry staples), these short-cut baked beans are:
- Prepared in half-hour—which suggests extra time to socialize and sip along with your visitors (or sneak just a few scoops of this Greek Layer Dip).
- Don’t require you to activate the oven—so if you wish to be technical, these are stovetop “baked” beans, however the spirit is there.
- AND are a lot, a lot more healthy for you too—no corn syrup, brown sugar, or bacon to be discovered. (This Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip is one other slimmed-down model excellent for cookouts.)

The way to Make Simple Baked Beans
Making these simple baked beans is so simple as sautéing onions, stirring the whole lot collectively, then letting it simmer on the range.
In simply 20 minutes, the components remodel right into a candy, smoky, savory pot of wholesome barbecue bean satisfaction.
The Elements
- Canned Beans. Making this simple baked beans recipe with canned beans cuts out hours of cook dinner time. I normally go for nice norther for baked beans as a result of they’ve a creamy texture and are delicate so the BBQ flavors can shine. Bonus: beans are low in fats, excessive in protein and simply 1/2 cup offers greater than 20% of the each day really useful quantity of fiber. (This Three Bean Salad is one other fiber-rich cookout salad to strive.) See extra bean choices within the FAQs under.
- Barbecue Sauce. To maintain these simple baked beans on the extra healthful aspect, I used my favourite do-it-yourself Barbecue Sauce. It’s the easiest way to skip the surplus sugar and components present in most store-bought sauces and management precisely what’s going into these dreamy beans.
- Ketchup. Provides physique to the sauce together with some tang and pure sweetness.
TIP!
Strive took for a product that makes use of pure sweeteners and is freed from excessive fructose corn syrup. There are such a lot of nice wholesome ketchup manufacturers on the market now that include solely restricted pure components.
- Tomato Paste. For thickness and the strong tomato taste.
- Maple Syrup. As an alternative of constructing this simple baked beans recipe with brown sugar, I swapped pure maple syrup. It provides pure sweetness and a bit of additional smokiness too.
- Onion. For a little bit zip and added layer of complicated taste.
- Worcestershire. Provides some savory umami taste.
- Spices. I flavored these infants with smoked paprika, a little bit dry mustard, and cumin. It’s my secret to constructing large barbecue bean taste with out the additional heft is spice.
Tip!
Whereas that is a straightforward baked beans recipe with out bacon, you may definitely saute chopped bacon slices with the onions for an additional layer of meaty, smoky taste.
The Instructions
- Rinse and drain beans.

- Combine up the sauce.

- Sauté the onion.

- Add the sauce to the onions, carry to a boil, then toss within the beans.

- Simmer, stirring often, till the liquid has decreased and the beans have thickened. ENJOY!
Storage Ideas
- To Retailer. Place baked beans in an hermetic storage container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm beans in a Dutch oven on the range over medium-low warmth till sizzling. You may as well reheat this dish within the microwave.
- To Freeze. Retailer leftovers in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
What to Serve with Simple Baked Beans
Gradual Cooker
Gradual Cooker Pulled Pork
Gradual Cooker
Crockpot BBQ Hen
Gradual Cooker
Crockpot Ribs
Beneficial Instruments to Make this Recipe
- Whisk. I really like this set of three whisks so I all the time have the right-sized whisk for the duty at hand.
- Mixing Bowl. This nested set of glass bowls is my fav!
- Saucepan. This one is an funding however value each single penny.
The Finest Saucepan
The aluminum and chrome steel sides of All-Clad saucepans have implausible sturdiness and even warmth distribution.
Higher-for-you, simple baked beans means an additional serving of On the spot Pot Ribs is a should.
It’s all about steadiness, proper?
Incessantly Requested Questions
I personally love the scale, texture, and style of nice northern beans in order that’s my go-to for any do-it-yourself baked bean recipe from scratch. Nonetheless, navy beans and pinto beans are additionally glorious decisions and are utilized in numerous simple baked bean recipes.
You will have to cook dinner the beans previous to utilizing them on this recipe. For a advised cooking technique, try my Instant Pot Refried Beans for ideas.
Whereas many store-bought and do-it-yourself baked beans will not be wholesome, this simple baked bean recipe is a good lightened-up different that’s full of taste and protein. Baked beans typically include massive quantities of sweeteners like cane sugar, brown sugar, or corn syrup along with bacon which provides each fats and energy. This recipe minimizes these, with out sacrificing that candy, smoky barbecue goodness.
- 2 cans Nice Northern Beans (15-ounce cans)
- 1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce really useful: Selfmade Barbecue Sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (omit, including additional salt to style, to make vegetarian)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon floor cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons additional virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
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Rinse and drain beans. Put aside.
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In a small bowl, whisk collectively the barbecue sauce, ketchup, maple syrup, tomato paste, Worcestershire, paprika, mustard, cumin, salt, and pepper. Put aside.
-
Warmth the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-high. As soon as the oil is sizzling, add the onion and sauté till aromatic and gentle, about 2 minutes.
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Add the barbecue sauce combination and produce to a boil. Add the drained beans.
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Cut back warmth to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often. Serve heat.
- TO STORE: Place baked beans in an hermetic storage container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm beans in a Dutch oven on the range over medium-low warmth till sizzling. You may as well reheat this dish within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Serving: 1(of 4)Energy: 373kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 19gFats: 3gSaturated Fats: 1gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 2gPotassium: 1066mgFiber: 16gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 556IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 5mg
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If you happen to ask me, the perimeters are simply as vital as the principle occasion relating to a great cookout. Strive one in every of these different implausible cookout aspect dish recipes: