Southern Baked Beans

5 from 6 votes

Sweet and smoky Southern baked beans flavored with onions, bell pepper, garlic, plenty of spices, and ground turkey are the perfect cookout side dish. These beans are loaded with flavor and will be your go-to side dish all summer long!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time1 hr 10 mins

Total Time1 hr 20 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 242kcal

Author: Ashley Boyd

Equipment

Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey 85% lean, or ground beef
½ medium yellow onion chopped
½ medium green bell pepper seeded and chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
2, 28-ounce cans baked beans I used Bush's Vegetarian and Barbecue beans
⅓ cup ketchup
¼ cup dark brown sugar or light brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses such as Grandma's
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons liquid smoke
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Heat a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground turkey, and cook until almost cooked through. Add the onion and bell pepper and continue to cook until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute until the garlic is fragrant.
Skim any visible fat with a spoon and add the baked beans, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, liquid smoke, and spices to the skillet. Stir the beans with a wooden spoon until all of the ingredients are well combined.
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake the beans uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes, or until browned on top and bubbly. Allow the beans to cool slightly and enjoy!

Notes

Make these baked beans vegetarian by omitting the ground meat or by substituting plant-based meat.
Leftover baked beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition