One of my most requested recipes, and I have to give the credit to my husband. Well, maybe not full credit, but at least the inspiration.
Lance doesn’t like baked beans. They’re too sweet. They’re too mushy. They’re too boring. He helped me play around with a recipe until we came up with this hearty, not-too-sweet, texture-filled version with a kick. Any time we’re invited to a cookout, I’m almost always asked to bring my beans.
Baked Beans with a Kick
- 6 slices bacon, diced
- 1 c. chopped onion
- 2 cans pork n beans
- 2 cans kidney beans
- 2 can butter beans
- 1/4 c. barbecue sauce
- 1/4 c. ketchup
- 1/4 c. brown sugar
- 1/4 c. white sugar
- 2 Tbsp. molasses
- 2 Tbsp. mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 c. picante sauce (mild, medium, or hot — how much kick do you want?!)
Fry bacon and onion in a large stock pot. Rinse and drain butter beans and kidney beans. Add all beans to bacon and onion. Mix ketchup, barbecue sauce, sugars, mustard, molasses, salt, and salsa. Blend, then add to bean mixture. Bake at 350° for 1 hour.
** Recipe serves about 20-25. Easily doubled.
** Great freezer recipe. I like to make a batch and freeze in meal-sized containers for an easy side when we cook out.
** This recipe also works well cooked in a crock pot.
** If you like your beans runny, keep the lid on for 40 minutes of baking time. We prefer to bake uncovered.
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Oooh, I love the kick addition!
Sweet and spicy!
I’ve just discovered your blog today, and I’m loving everything I see!!
These beans sound like something my family would love. We love baked beans, but beans from the can are just, well, boring… I love all the additions, especially the bacon
This will be the perfect side to our chicken fajita’s at my daughters birthday party sat. Thanks so much! Looks delish.
yum those look so good! Now I wish I would’ve picked up the pork n beans on sale at WAlgreens last week!
These sound super yummy to me! But, alas, I am the only one in my family who will eat baked beans. It’s a texture issue for the rest of them.
Highly likely I’ll be sticking to the canned variety for now. Maybe this next baby will like to eat beans with me!! 
*Drool*
I love baked beans! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Sounds good!! I like the “kick” idea.
That looks so good! Bacon always gives beans good flavor.
Looks fabulous – I will have to try this!
Thanks for posting this, they sound wonderful !
Claudia at Claudia’s Irish Eyes
claudiafranson.blogspot.com
close to my recipe but have never added picante sauce wow what a kick
These beans look so good. Can you tell me
what size can of beans is used?
I saw your website on Pioneer Woman.
Thank You
@Sondra, They are all 15 ounce cans. Let me know how you like it!
Just finished putting these together for my brother-in-law’s graduation this weekend. Haven’t baked them yet (gonna put them in the crockpot) but they are delicious already, I’m sure they are going to be even better once they are baked. I added doubled everything and added 1 lb ground beef. Not sure about serving 20-25, as good as these are I don’t think they’ll go that far!
The crockpot works well. We’ve done that, too! I’ve also added extra beans to make them less soupy. The addition of hamburger… such a great idea! They could totally serve as a main dish in that respect.
I have made this recipe for 30 years….you do not need the bbq sauce OR the addition of white sugar….yikes! nope…everything is ok, but this is just simply too much.
Humph, and here I thought we were so original. Didn’t even know picante sauce existed 30 years ago!
Almost identical to our family’s favorite beans. We add browned hamburger and browned sausage. I have never had it with the picante though. I am excited to try the extra kick.
Can’t wait to try these, but how spicy is it?? My dad doesn’t like these too “burn your tongue off” hot. Please let me know!
It’s not really spicy, if you use mild salsa. It’s definitely not your “traditional, sweet” baked beans, though!
Your instructions don’t say anything about the pork n beans and what to do with them. Making this tonight… HOPEFULLY you read this today! Thanks.
Just dump them in with the rest of the beans and bacon/onions.
Hi, I made these beans today in the crock pot and am now declaring them my favorite baked beans. And I’ve tried a lot and LOVE baked beans. I’ll be posting it on my blog in a few weeks linking back to your blog, thanks!!
So glad you like them! You probably already know this blogging “rule” but be sure not to post the whole recipe on your blog… copyright rules and all.
Hi Amy, These look great. If you are doing them in the crockpot, how long do you cook them?? Any other adjustments?? Thanks !!
On low for 4-6 hours in the crockpot (though I’ve found that different crockpots have different “low” temperatures.) No other adjustments needed, but they may be a bit soupier with the lid on the crockpot (compared to taking it off in the oven for a while).