The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
These Loaded Baked Beans get mixed with ground beef, bell pepper, brown sugar, onion, and bacon and are baked for hours until they’re rich and thick!
Our recipe costs approximately $15.37 to make. It makes twelve servings and costs about $1.28 per serving.
These Loaded Baked Beans complement our Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, Grilled Hamburgers, and our Panera Mac and Cheese.
Our Loaded Baked Beans are loaded with goodness. In conjunction with the crispy bacon, the tender brown beef makes for thick and hearty beans that are irresistible. In addition, they are an easy way to doctor up a plain can of beans.
You can make our Loaded Baked Beans in the oven or a crockpot. Either way, you end up with a delicious side dish for any event.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 4 (28 ounce) cans of pork & beans – $7.98
- 1 pound lean ground beef – $3.33
- ½ onion – $0.31
- ½ green bell pepper – $0.29
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar – $0.72
- ¾ cup ketchup – $0.66
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard – $0.09
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce – $0.05
- 8 slices bacon – $1.92
- ½ teaspoon pepper – $0.02
To learn more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Then, using a large bowl, mix the browned beef, beans, onion, bell pepper, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Next, mix ½ cup of brown sugar with ½ teaspoon of pepper and sprinkle it over the bacon. Bake the bacon until it is cooked and then remove it from the oven.
- Put the bean mixture into a baking dish and top with the bacon slices. Bake for up to two hours.
- Finally, remove the beans from the oven and serve with chopped parsley.
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- You can use BBQ sauce instead of ketchup if you wish.
- You can add a little spice by adding diced jalapenos, chipotle, or green chiles to the beans.
- You can also use red bell pepper instead of green if you like.
Storage Tips
SERVE: You can keep the beans out for about two hours before they need to be covered and refrigerated.
STORE: Place leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
REHEAT: Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat until heated through. You may need to add some water to the beans to loosen them up.
FREEZE: This recipe does not freeze and defrost well. The beans turn to mush.
Recipe FAQs
Beans are high in protein and fiber, so they are a great healthy option for side dishes. However, with the additional ingredients in this Loaded Baked Beans recipe, like bacon, the dish is not considered as healthy as other side dishes. All things in moderation!
You can take a plain can of beans and turn it into something tasty and flavorful with a few added ingredients. Our recipe adds ground beef, bacon, bell pepper, onion, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to the cans of pork and beans.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Practice counting skills with your child as they help count and pour the number of cans of beans into the bowl.
Ages 4-5: Ask your child to help spread the brown sugar and pepper mixture over the bacon slices. They can count the number of bacon slices on the baking sheet for practice counting while in the kitchen.
Ages 6-8: Your little one can pre-measure the ingredients for the bean mixture and then mix them.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
These beans serve a crowd, so they are a fabulous and cost-effective option for potlucks and family BBQs.
More Side Dishes
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Ambrosia Salad with Cool Whip
- Frog Eye Salad
- Seven Layer Salad
- Instant Pot Baked Beans
- Caesar Salad Kit Hack without Anchovies
- Hash Brown Casserole
- Crockpot Broccoli Casserole
- Oven Roasted Red Potatoes
- Grilled Potatoes in Foil
Loaded Baked Beans
Equipment
- baking sheet
- mixing bowl
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- 9×13-inch baking dish
- mixing spoon
Ingredients
BEAN MIXTURE:
- 4 28 ounce cans of pork & beans
- 1 pound lean ground beef cooked and drained
- Half of an onion diced
- Half of green bell pepper diced
- 1 ½ cup brown sugar divided
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
CANDIED BACON:
- 8 slices bacon
- ½ teaspoon pepper
GARNISH:
- Chopped parsley optional
Instructions
PREP OVEN:
- Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
MIX BEAN MIXTURE:
- In a large bowl, add browned and drained ground beef, all four cans of beans, onion, bell pepper, 1 cup of brown sugar, ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix until combined.
MAKE BACON:
- Lay out bacon on a parchment-lined rimmed sheet pan.
- Mix ½ cup of brown sugar with ½ teaspoon of pepper and sprinkle all over the bacon.
- Bake the bacon until it is just cooked and just starting to get crispy about 15 minutes.
- Remove the bacon from the oven.
BAKE THE BEANS:
- Put the baked bean mixture into a large oven-proof skillet or 9×13 baking dish.
- Top the baked beans with the bacon slices.
- Bake for up to 2 hours. The length of baking time depends on how you like your beans. If you want a thicker, stickier bean, leave it in 2 or more hours. If you like saucier beans, then cook for 1 ½ hour.
- Remove the beans from the oven and serve with chopped parsley (optional).
SLOW COOKER VARIATION:
- To make these in your slow cooker, pour the bean mixture into your slow cooker and top with the cooked bacon. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
MJ says
This is such a flavorful recipe! Love the tang from the mustard and rich flavors the Worcestershire sauce adds.
Colleen says
These baked beans were a big hit at our BBQ on the weekend. Everyone wanted the recipe. I love that you can use canned beans, too. Thank you!
kushigalu says
Drooling over these loaded baked beans. SO flavorful. Thanks for sharing.
Gloria says
I love baked beans. Bacon is key to making them delicious. The perfect dish to feed a crowd. Perfect for potlucks and summer bbq parties.