Southern Baked Beans – Easy to make and packed with smokey- rich and creamy vs. sweet and tangy flavors topped with crispy bacon. That’s definitely a complement to any dish you side it with! Plus it’s so good you can even eat it on its own! A great addition to your summer cookout!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. If desired or using bacon, cut into 3-4 strips, then par cook for about 3 minutes. Do not cook the bacon until crisp because it will continue cooking in the oven. Remove and set aside.
Drain oil and leave about 2 tablespoons bacon fat (replace with cooking oil), then add diced onion, jalapenos and bell pepper.
Saute for about 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add pork n beans, red kidney beans, pinto beans, bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, Cajun seasoning, minced garlic and pepper to taste .
Quickly stir until all the ingredients have been fully combined.
Pour the beans into an ungreased 9 x 13 baking dish, then top with par-cooked bacon and bake uncovered, at 350 degrees F about 35 to 45 minutes, or until bubbly. Do not over cook.
Test frequently and gently – resist the temptation to stir too often during cooking and don’t try to rush things by boiling or simmering too vigorously as cooking times vary.
Try a few at a time even in the same pot, beans cook at different rates so it’s best to taste some of the beans when checking for doneness.
Patience is a virtue. Baked beans act like sponges, just let the finished beans sit overnight to absorb as much flavor as possible.
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.