Bert Swope
Add flavorful flair to canned beans by dressing them up with maple syrup, molasses, ketchup or mustard for a delicious twist.
Best of all, no complex recipes need be developed; all it takes to transform canned beans into an exciting meal is adding ingredients as they heat on the stovetop.
Garnish With Fresh Herbs
Simply adding fresh herbs can quickly elevate the flavor of canned beans, creating bold yet earthy aromas to balance their sweetness.
Make baked beans more appealing by adding sweetener of some sort – maple syrup is an ideal choice because of its mild, multilayered flavors that will bring depth and interest to the dish, but light brown sugar or molasses work just as well.
Ketchup can also add tomato-y flavor to beans, but be careful to select a brand without high-fructose corn syrup. A splash of white vinegar may add acidity, though excess amounts may overshadow their original flavors.
Add Diced Onion Or Sliced Green Onions
Diced onion or green onions add sweetness and can also thicken your baked beans, turning canned baked beans into something more homestyle.
Dijon mustard is an indispensable pantry ingredient that can elevate the flavor of canned beans. Not too sweet and perfectly complementing the tart tomatoes found within cans, it adds just enough spice for optimal flavor enhancement.
Add bacon or sausage for an easy and budget-friendly way to elevate a can of beans! Both provide the beans with a deliciously smoky, salty, and savory flavor while the added ingredients can completely change their profile – the addition of just a few key components can transform an ordinary bean dish into one everyone will adore! Bonus points if all the ingredients can come together quickly in one skillet!
Drizzle With Sauce
Easily enhance your baked beans if they seem bland, using peach preserves as an easy and healthier way of adding sweetness without increasing calories.
Liquid smoke can add a smoky flair to canned beans, giving them that signature smoked taste without having to actually use an actual smoker. While not exactly replicating it, but it will come close.
For those who like their beans spicy, adding cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes can bring out the sweetness in them and balance it out perfectly. Leftovers of these beans will keep well in the fridge for several days before being easily reheated on either the stove top or microwaved to complete classic comfort foods like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, coleslaw or chicken kabobs!
Sprinkle Cheese
Canned beans provide plenty of heartiness on their own, yet can also serve as the foundation for other ingredients to add a variety of flavors and textures to the dish. Add grated cheese for an additional burst of flavor with satisfying crunch!
maple syrup adds another dimension of sweetness that makes canned beans stand out, providing more complex notes than straight sugar cane and even providing essential nutrition benefits.
Make an extra special treat by wrapping baked beans in puff pastry to create an exquisite snack that is sure to please. A pastry wheel makes this process simpler, and using a high-quality brand of puff pastry ensures optimal results – creating something your friends and family will remember fondly at parties or summer BBQs alike! You could even prepare extra portions and freeze for later!
Toasted Bread Crumbs
Sugar adds just the right touch of sweetness to canned beans for an elegant and fulfilling dish. Just be wary not to overdo it with too much syrupy sweetness if using sweeteners like molasses or maple syrup as sweeteners; use sparingly.
Toasting bread crumbs creates an irresistibly crunchy topping for baked beans, adding another dimension of flavor and making them suitable for use in sandwiches, burgers and barbecues. It’s a simple addition that can elevate ordinary beans to something extraordinary for burgers, sandwiches and barbecues.
Make your canned beans even more memorable by following an au gratin recipe and creating an indulgent casserole dish using this French technique to produce creamy and decadent dishes, suitable for any fine dining establishment. These dishes provide an opportunity to turn simple ingredients into something extraordinary while simultaneously adding dimension and excitement to meals that might otherwise be boring and bland.
Add Bacon Or Sausage
Crisp bacon transforms canned beans into the ultimate side dish. Its crunchy, salty bite perfectly balances their sweetness while providing an additional smokey, rich dimension of flavor.
Start this recipe off right by cooking diced bacon until it is crisp in either a cast iron skillet (affiliate) or dutch oven, reserving some of its fat for flavoring the beans. Mix diced bacon and smoked sausage into your beans, and bake in an uncovered oven until thickened – about 20-25 minutes should do.
If you want something truly unexpected, drizzle your beans with maple syrup – but make sure it’s made from natural ingredients only! For best results, gradually drizzle a small amount at a time, tasting as you go to ensure they don’t become overly sweet.
Maple Syrup Or Molasses
Traditional Boston baked bean recipes call for molasses; this Vermont-inspired batch uses maple syrup instead. Plus, there’s cloves, mustard and salt pork added for an irresistibly hearty meal!
Soak the beans overnight before cooking until tender – usually 45-55 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Dark molasses is more flavorful and robust than its lighter counterpart, while corn syrup offers similar sweetening capabilities without activating baking soda as much – however this could make your beans too sweet for some tastes; adding a dash of ketchup may help balance this out. Unsulfured molasses is available too but doesn’t match up as well with this particular recipe’s darker molasses variety.
Brown Sugar
Adding just the right kind of sweetness when serving baked beans is key. Too much sweetness could result in an overwhelming and monotone flavor profile, devoid of nuance and flavor depth.
Brown sugar has long been a pantry essential, constructed of crystalline sucrose and molasses (a by-product of sugar production). It adds richer flavors than regular granulated sugar and pairs perfectly with baked beans!
Coke makes an excellent addition to store-bought beans, elevating their natural sweetness and acidity while liquid smoke provides an irresistibly smoky note that pairs perfectly with their inherent sweetness. If you opt to include bacon as well, feel free to cook it first before sprinkling on top or stirring it through for added smokiness!
Spicy Mustard Ketchup Or BBQ Seasoning
Add spicy mustard or BBQ seasoning for a flavor-rich kick in baked beans! Both these condiments offer sweet and savory notes that elevate them from being simply side dishes into main courses that feel more satisfying and substantial than expected.
For milder heat levels, garam masala might be your solution. Crafted using toasted and finely ground spices, garam masala offers more subtle spice flavors compared to most curry powders.
With just a few adjustments, canned beans can become an irresistibly comforting homemade side dish that will have everyone asking for the recipe! Plus, thanks to easy recipes requiring ingredients you already have on hand, you can whip up batches as needed – meaning no more settle for bland store-bought bean offerings!
Cider Vinegar Or Worcestershire Sauce
Canned beans are an affordable staple that are quick and easy to prepare, yet can add great texture and variety. When adding fresh herbs, bacon, ketchup, brown sugar cider vinegar or Worcestershire sauce these side dishes become deliciously irresistible!
Your canned beans can also be transformed into a casserole! Start by sauteeing some bacon until crispy before stirring in chopped onions, garlic cloves, smoked paprika, brown sugar and both cans of beans – then pour into an oven-safe baking dish and bake until bubbling and delicious!
If the baked beans become stiff or too thick while reheating in the oven, you can add some water or chicken stock as they rewarm if they need additional liquid. Just be wary not to overdo it with hot sauce, as too much might send them into extreme heat territory!
