11 Clever and Delicious Hacks to Elevate a Can of Baked Beans

No matter if you’re a Heinz or Bush’s person, sometimes a can of baked beans really hits the spot in a way that other things can’t. Plus, it’s one of the cheapest meals you can put together. Looking for a way to shake up some baked beans in a tasty way? 

Here are 11 ideas to do just that.

This is a rootin’, tootin’, time-tested, cowboy-beloved recipe right here. Crisp up some bacon and toss some into the beans alongside a few healthy shots of whiskey. Eat it out of a pot on an open fire under the full moon. Bring a guitar. Sing a tune. It’s just you and the stars. And the beans.

If you’ve got some Pillsbury pie crust or anything similar, this is a really great use for a can baked beans. Grab a few hot dogs, slice ‘em up, and whip yourself up a hot dog pie.

Here’s an easy one, and it’s a perfect way to use up all those crumbs and half-broken chips at the bottom of the bag. Dump some mustard and some BBQ sauce in, mix it up, and top it with those crushed chips. Make sure you don’t submerge them fully, or they’ll get soft. You’ve got flavor and texture all over the place with this one.

You don’t just need red beans or kidney beans to make a great chili. Baked beans bring a great, smoky, barbecue-y flavor to any beans you’re making. Just add paprika, ground beef, and any other pantry staples or meaty leftovers you’ve got in the fridge.

If your ingredient pantry is light, go for just a little bit of vinegar and hot sauce. The sticky, fatty beans will soak up that acid and heat with joy. Those two things are all you need to pull that extra umami out of there.

No doubt many people will be appalled by this (undoubtedly the same people that have developed a personality around the claim that pineapple pizza is some sort of capital offense). If you’re not one of those people and you enjoy salty-sweet combos, all you need is a little brown sugar and a few pineapple chunks to turn some baked beans into the talk of the potluck.

Like pigs in a blanket, but beanier. This is a classic Australian snack; check out the recipe here.

Tomato, green onions, and cheese are a powerful combo. They’re not unlike Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippin, and Dennis Rodman, each with an important role to play. Toss ‘em into the baked beans and watch ‘em work wonders.

Vinegar and brown sugar are the basis of the sweet and sour flavor profile here, and as with all things, this is significantly improved upon with the addition of bacon. Just add a cup of brown sugar and a half cup of white vinegar for every three cans of baked beans you’re cooking, and voilà. And as you know, a little garlic powder and a little bit of butter never hurts.

There are few “recipes” easier to master than the classic British dish. Something tells me you’ll be able to whip this one up from memory. Step one: Heat up a can of beans. Step two: Put those beans on some toast. End of recipe.

You won’t catch me putting mayo in my damn baked beans. Not in this life, brother. However, this one person on Reddit is into it. If that turns out to be disgusting, point your hate mail that direction.