Cast Iron Skillet Baked Beans
An easy recipe for cast iron skillet baked beans: one dish, lots of flavor. It goes from stovetop to oven to dining table. (For the easiest clean up, make sure your skillet is well seasoned. Try this seasoning oil for a beautifully non-stick surface.)
You want baked beans that feel a little more special than opening a can? I hear ya. And yet…soaking beans and cooking them all day feels like a bit much for a simple side dish.
No worries, these are the perfect combination of easy and delicious. They are canned beans made special with everyday ingredients and just a few minutes of hands-on time. (If you love the idea of homestyle side dishes in a skillet, you’ll love cast iron mac and cheese too!)
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Don’t substitute the vinegar or mustard with milder versions if you can help it. They’re the secret to the beans’ bold flavor. The size of your skillet matters here; a 10 to 12-inch skillet will give you enough room for the beans to cook evenly and develop that thick, caramelized topping.
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Equipment
- 10-inch cast iron skillet (if you don’t have one, you can use a 9×13 dish and reduce the cooking time)
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon, diced
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- ½ cup green pepper, finely diced
- 2 large cans pork and beans (usually 23.8 ounces each)
- ⅓ cup barbecue sauce, a sweet brand like Sweet Baby Ray’s
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
How to Make Cast Iron Skillet Baked Beans
Step 1: Prep
Preheat oven to 300℉ with the rack in the center.
Step 2: Cook The Bacon And The Veggies
Cook the bacon, onion, and green pepper in a medium cast iron skillet (about 10 inches wide) until the bacon is mostly cooked and the onions and peppers are soft. There is no need to drain any grease, but you can if it seems like too much.
Step 3: Add Beans
Add the canned pork and beans and stir well to combine.
Step 4: Add Mix-Ins
Add all flavorings and stir well. Taste for seasoning and add more sugar or barbecue sauce if desired.
Step 5: Bake
Bake, uncovered, for 2 hours, or until beans are well-browned. The beans should be bubbling around the edges and have a deep, caramelized color on top. Serve directly from the pan.
Serving and Storing Cast Iron Skillet Baked Beans
These are best the day they’re made, but they reheat just fine.
In the Fridge:
Once they’ve cooled down, transfer them into an airtight container and pop them in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh and delicious for up to 4 days.
Freezing:
While you can freeze baked beans, the texture might change a bit once thawed. They tend to become a little softer, but they’ll still be tasty.
Just be sure to use a freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to enjoy them, let them thaw in the fridge overnight and then gently reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Questions and Troubleshooting
Sure thing! The bacon adds a smoky flavor, but you can substitute it with a bit of liquid smoke or smoked paprika.
Give them time. Beans thicken up as they cool, so let them sit for a bit after baking. If they’re still runnier than you like, pop them back in the oven for a little longer. These are easy and flexible. Don’t overthink it!
More Bean Recipes
- Another way to make this recipe is with a smoker. Smoked baked beans can go right in with whatever else you’re smoking.
- Crockpot barbecue beans – the easiest way to cook beans!
- Make lima beans taste better with bacon, onion, and brown sugar.
- Use your cast iron skillet again to make these homestyle green beans.
Printable Recipe
Cast Iron Skillet Baked Beans
Equipment
- 10 inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon diced
- 1 small onion finely diced
- ½ cup green pepper finely diced
- 2 large cans pork and beans (usually 23.8 ounces each)
- ⅓ cup barbecue sauce a sweet brand like Sweet Baby Ray's
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
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Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 300℉ with the rack in the center.
- Cook the bacon and the veggies. Cook the bacon, onion, and green pepper in a medium cast iron skillet (about 10 inches wide) until the bacon is mostly cooked and the onions and peppers are soft. There is no need to drain any grease, but you can if it seems like too much.
- Add beans. Add the canned pork and beans and stir well to combine.
- Add mix-ins. Add all flavorings and stir well. Taste for seasoning and add more sugar or barbecue sauce if desired.
- Bake. Bake, uncovered, for 2 hours, or until beans are well-browned. The beans should be bubbling around the edges and have a deep, caramelized color on top. Serve directly from pan.
Notes
Nutrition
By Katie Shaw
Katie shares simple, reliable recipes from her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens.
