Molasses Baked Beans

A mixture of BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and molasses plus cayenne pepper create a wonderful blend of sweet and spicy.

The smoky flavor from the bacon and pulled pork makes these beans taste like they were simmered on an open fire. Makes a great side for burgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, ribs, or pulled pork. This is a super easy recipe to make with 2 cans of pork and beans. You’ll want to cook this baked bean recipe in the oven for about an hour to really develop the flavors. For the first half of cooking, you’ll cook them covered. Then cook them uncovered to get them thickened up some and let the bacon crisp up.

These Baked Beans with Molasses are right up there with Baked Beans with Smoked Sausage when it comes to my favorite baked beans. If you are looking for a slow cooker baked bean recipe, try these Slow Cooker Bourbon Baked Beans.

Why Is Molasses Used in Baked Beans?

Molasses adds a wonderful sweetness to baked beans, but less so than brown sugar does. It also has a complexity of flavor than you get with brown sugar. As an added bonus, it gives the beans a dark, rich-looking color.

Molasses Baked Beans Recipe Tips

• The pulled pork can be left out but I really love it in these beans. You can use leftover pulled pork or you can use pulled pork that you purchase from your local bbq restaurant. If you leave the pork out, you may want to add a few extra slices of bacon.
• If you like your beans thick, bake the beans for a little longer than the recipe suggests. If you like soupier beans, bake for a little less time.

Storage

• Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or can be frozen for 2 months.

Here are some more great side dishes for your next cookout:

• Buttermilk Coleslaw
• Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs
• Southern Potato Salad
• BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad
• Creamy Italian Cucumber Salad

Watch the short video below to see how easy this recipe is to make.

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