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Brown sugar baked beans with bacon in a cast iron skillet

Brown Sugar Baked Beans

Canned beans baked with bacon, onion, brown sugar and mustard until thick, saucy and caramelized on top. An easy cookout side for a crowd.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 slices bacon chopped
  • ½ medium onion finely diced
  • 3 cans (15–16 ounces each) pork and beans undrained
  • ⅓ cup ketchup or BBQ sauce
  • ¼ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Cook the bacon in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat for 5–6 minutes, until it starts to crisp. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, until soft. Spoon off all but about 1 tablespoon of the drippings.
  3. Stir in the beans, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, vinegar and pepper.
  4. Bake uncovered for 45–50 minutes, until thick and bubbly around the edges. If your pan isn’t oven-safe, pour the beans into a 2-quart baking dish first.
  5. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Using canned baked beans instead of pork and beans? Cut the brown sugar to 2 tablespoons.
  • Stovetop: simmer uncovered over medium-low heat for 20–25 minutes, stirring often.
  • Slow cooker: cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2–3 hours.
  • Meatless: skip the bacon, cook the onion in 1 tablespoon of oil and add ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika.