🫘 Brown Sugar and Bacon Baked Beans – Sweet, Smoky, Classic BBQ Side

These Brown Sugar and Bacon Baked Beans are the ultimate American BBQ side dish — sweet, smoky, and loaded with rich bacon flavor. Simmered in a thick, caramelized sauce with molasses and brown sugar, this easy baked beans recipe is perfect for cookouts, potlucks, and family dinners.

Once you try them, you’ll never go back to canned beans alone!

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Sweet & smoky flavor everyone loves

• Perfect BBQ and potluck side

• Easy to make with pantry ingredients

• Great for summer cookouts & holidays

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• 🛒 Ingredients

  • 6 slices bacon, chopped

  • 1 small onion, diced

  • 2 (28 oz) cans pork & beans (or baked beans)

  • ½ cup brown sugar, packed

  • ¼ cup ketchup

  • 2 tbsp molasses

  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard

  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

  • ½ tsp black pepper

  • ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)

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  👩‍🍳 Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

  2. In a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and drain.

  3. In the same skillet, sauté onion in bacon drippings until soft.

  4. In a large bowl, combine beans, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and smoked paprika.

  5. Stir in cooked bacon and onions.

  6. Transfer mixture to a baking dish.

  7. Bake uncovered for 45–50 minutes, until bubbly and thickened.

  8. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

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  🧊 Storage & Reheating

  • Refrigerator: Store leftovers up to 4 days.

  • Reheat: Warm on stovetop or in the oven.