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Baking dish filled with thick, bubbly Southern-style baked beans, topped with crispy bacon strips and garnished with chopped parsley.

Southern-Style Baked Beans (A Family Favorite!)

These Southern-Style Baked Beans are a longtime family favorite — sweet, smoky, tangy, and thick with a rich, homemade flavor. They’re loaded with tender beans, sautéed onions and peppers, and topped with crispy bacon for that classic Southern finish. Whether you're hosting a summer BBQ, feeding a crowd for a graduation party, or bringing a dish to a holiday potluck, this make-ahead side is guaranteed to steal the show. Baked low and slow until bubbly and perfect, these beans are comfort food at its finest.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Servings: 18
Course: Side Dish
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Ingredients (Single Batch – Serves 18):
  • 8 slices bacon halved
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • ½ green bell pepper diced
  • 3 cans 28 oz each pork & beans
  • ¾ cup barbecue sauce
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup distilled or cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp dry mustard or 2 tbsp Dijon mustard

Method
 

Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
  2. Cook bacon in a large skillet until partially done. Remove and set aside.
  3. In the bacon drippings, sauté onion and pepper until soft (about 5 min).
  4. Add beans, BBQ sauce, sugar, vinegar, and mustard. Stir and bring to a simmer.
  5. Transfer to a greased 9x13 pan. Lay bacon on top.
  6. Bake uncovered for 2 hours until thick and bubbly. Let sit before serving.