Southern Baked Beans

This Southern baked beans recipe, developed by test kitchen expert Kathryn Hendrix, is wonderfully easy and crowd-pleasing. 

Southern Baked Beans Ingredients

These are the ingredients you’ll need to make this Southern baked beans recipe: 

• Beef: This recipe for baked beans starts with lean ground beef. 
• Bacon: You’ll need three strips of diced bacon. 
• Vegetables: A diced yellow onion and diced green pepper adds flavor and color. 
• Sugar: Dark blend sugar lends sweetness and warmth. 
• Sauces: Ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard add even more flavor. 
• Beans: Canned baked beans are the base of this flavorful recipe. 

How to Make Southern Baked Beans

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below – but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade Southern baked beans: 

1. Brown the ground beef. 
2. Cook the bacon and vegetables until the bacon is crisp. 
3. Add the beef and remaining ingredients to the bacon mixture. 
4. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish. 
5. Bake the beans until bubbly. 

Test Kitchen Tips

This recipe was developed in our test kitchen. Check out some tips and tricks from culinary experts that might make the cooking process easier: 

• To make it easier to dice, freeze the bacon for about 20 minutes before cutting.
• Any canned baked beans will do, but we used a vegetarian option during testing because of the meat added later.  

What to Serve With Southern Baked Beans

“This would be a great side dish for barbecue or picnic food, such as burgers,” says recipe tester Juliana Hale. “It’s big enough for a big gathering or to take along to a potluck.”

Explore our entire collection of Barbecue and Grilling Recipes for more delicious inspiration. 

Can You Make Southern Baked Beans Ahead of Time? 

Sure! You can assemble the Southern baked beans the night before you plan to serve them, then cover them tightly with storage wrap. Bake them according to the recipe. 

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams