The best baked beans are the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The best canned baked beans capture that homemade-by-the-fire taste so you don’t have to do any actual cooking.
When done right, a can of baked beans can be a delicious meal on its own. So, what did we look for in this taste test? We wanted good quality first and foremost. And texture is paramount. Baked beans should be slightly firm, but rich, buttery, and creamy in the middle. Baked beans should never be grainy, which several brands we tried unfortunately were. Also, the sauce that comes in the can should be a balance of sweet and tangy. Extra notes of smokiness were a bonus. We, of course, hoped for good seasoning. And while bacon isn’t a must, if you advertise it, don’t be stingy with it. These are the best baked beans you can buy at the grocery store.
- Bush’s Sweet Heat
These are some of the best baked beans we tried because they give you exactly what they promise: sweet and heat! The sugary taste coats your tongue and then the spicy kick comes in at the end. I think it’s a great variation on the classic baked bean. If regular baked beans are too saccharine for you, these are a great option. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Bush’s Brown Sugar & Bourbon Grilling Beans
I’m not exactly sure what a “grilling bean” is, but I now know that I love it! The Bush’s “Grilling Bean” line of baked beans are all tasty, but these are one of the tastiest in the group. You don’t get much bourbon, but I think the bourbon is more about the vibe than the flavor. The sweet and savory flavors are perfectly balanced. The beans themselves are perfectly cooked. The person eating them (me or you) is perfect. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- Amy’s Vegetarian Organic Baked Beans
Amy’s is the best vegetarian can of baked beans we tried in our baked bean taste test. It’s very tomato-forward but there’s some sweetness, too. Plus, the bean quality is excellent. Amy’s uses white beans that are a bit smaller. They kind of clump up together, sticking to each other with sweet tomatoey goo. I thought these were absolutely delicious, and if you ask me, you don’t need bacon for baked beans to work. The best baked beans can shine without the meat. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Bush’s Maple & Cured Bacon Baked Beans
This can of baked beans actually had some big chunks of bacon in it, which made it stand out because some of the other cans with added bacon skimped on the bacon. Bush’s Maple & Cured Bacon baked beans have the feeling of a full English breakfast, with an American edge. Like all of Bush’s baked bean products, these are deliciously sweet and the beans are tender. The maple flavor is great, with a molasses-like quality that permeates every bite. This is one of the best cans of baked beans, especially if you’re not into frying your own bacon. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Bush’s Southern Pit BBQ Grilling Beans
The Southern Pit BBQ Grilling Beans are my favorite baked beans in the “Grilling Bean” line. Unlike other baked beans, these sweet and savory beans are more savory than sweet. You get great smokiness, onion, garlic, and tomato. The soft and creamy beans have just a hint of sweetness. I loved the zesty flavor and the fact that there is plenty of saucy-ness. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Kroger
- Bush’s Brown Sugar Hickory Baked Beans
Bush’s is synonymous with baked beans for a reason; they just understand the flavor aesthetic. Bush’s Brown Sugar Hickory beans carry the quintessential baked bean taste—sweet, tangy, and a little tomatoey. The addition of smokiness goes a long way, and the hickory adds a nice, standout complexity. The beans themselves are creamy and buttery just like we want. When it comes to baked beans, Bush’s understands, more than anybody else, that sweetness is the move. These have the most pronounced sugary taste of the bunch, and that’s why they’re number one. This is what the best baked beans are supposed to taste like. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
Best Spicy
Best Sweet
Best Vegetarian
Best Bacon
Best Savory
Best of the Best
Other baked beans we tried: Great Value Baked Beans, Great Value Maple and Cured Bacon, Bush’s Original, Trader Joe’s Baked Beans, Bush’s Country Style, Dakota’s Pride Original, Dakota’s Pride Maple, Dakota’s Pride Country Style, Whole Foods 365, B&M Original Baked Beans, Heinz Vegetarian Baked Beans in Rich Tomato Sauce, Walnut Acres, Walnut Acres Brown Sugar & Onion, Bush’s Zero Sugar, Bush’s Steakhouse Grilling Beans
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