Julie's Kickin Baked Beans

Elevate your next barbecue or family dinner with Julie’s Kickin’ Baked Beans, a bold and flavorful twist on a classic comfort food. This irresistible dish combines tender canned baked beans with smoky bacon, caramelized onions, and a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors from brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and apple cider vinegar. A hint of heat from chili powder and optional hot sauce gives these beans their signature "kick," while smoked paprika adds depth and a subtle smokiness. Topped with crispy bacon and baked to bubbly, caramelized perfection, these beans are a crowd-pleasing side dish that pairs beautifully with grilled meats, burgers, or cornbread. Quick to prepare—with just 15 minutes of prep time—this recipe makes enough for 8 servings, ensuring everyone gets a taste of its savory-sweet magic.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:75 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 cups (approximately 2 cans of 28 oz each) canned baked beans (original or with pork)
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 0.5 cup ketchup
• 0.3333 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional, for extra heat)
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Step 2

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cooled, chop it into small pieces and set aside.

Step 3

Reserve about 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings in the skillet. Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the baked beans, ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, chili powder, hot sauce (if using), salt, and black pepper. Mix well.

Step 5

Stir in the cooked onions, garlic, and half of the chopped bacon into the bean mixture. Mix thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly combined.

Step 6

Pour the bean mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish or a similarly sized oven-safe casserole dish. Spread it out evenly.

Step 7

Sprinkle the remaining chopped bacon on top of the beans.

Step 8

Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened and bubbly, and the top is slightly caramelized.

Step 9

Remove the baked beans from the oven and let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1334.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1661.5

Total Fat 30.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.9g
Cholesterol 83.9mg	0%
Sodium 7326.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 309.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 39.9g	0%
Total Sugars 160.3g
Protein 61.9g	0%

Vitamin D 7.7IU	0%
Calcium 378.9mg	0%
Iron 12.9mg	0%
Potassium 3472.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 15.6%

Protein: 14.1%

Carbs: 70.3%