Baked Bean Casserole
These baked bean casseroles are classic comfort-food favorites—slow-baked, tangy, and hearty. Choose a traditional bean pot style with molasses and bacon, a mixed-bean casserole with optional hamburger, or quick baked limas finished with crisp bacon.
Use the jump links below to pick a recipe style, then scroll for ingredients, instructions, and make-ahead tips in the FAQ.
>Recipes on this page
Use the links below to jump directly to each bake bean recipe.
- Homemade Baked Bean Casserole
- Bean Pot Casserole
- Tangy Lima Bake Casserole
- Baked Beans Firemens Style
- Lima Beans and Sausages
Homemade Baked Bean Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 box dry lima beans
- 1 small onion, minced
- 1/2 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
- 7 tablespoons molasses
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 5 to 6 tablespoons ketchup
- 10 to 12 slices bacon, quartered
Oven: 300°F | Equipment: 2-quart bean pot
Instructions
- Soak beans overnight in water.
- In the morning, boil beans about 2 hours; reserve some bean cooking liquid.
- Mix onion, garlic, sugar, mustard, molasses, salt, and ketchup to make the sauce.
- Layer in the bean pot: bacon, 1/3 beans, 1/3 sauce. Repeat twice, ending with bacon.
- Pour in enough reserved bean liquid to cover. Cover with foil and bake at 300°F for several hours.
- If beans dry out, add more liquid. Uncover for the last hour to brown the top.
- Total cook time: long/slow bake (several hours)
- Servings: 12
Bean Pot Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 1 large can pork and beans
- 1 can red kidney beans
- 1 can small lima beans, drained
- 1 lb hamburger (optional)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped (optional)
Oven: 300°F | Equipment: 2-quart casserole
Instructions
- Fry onions (and optional garlic) in oil until soft.
- Combine all ingredients in a 2-quart casserole.
- Bake about 1 hour (or cook on the stovetop instead if preferred).
- Total cook time: 1 hour
- Servings: 12
Tangy Lima Bake Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 jar butter beans, drained
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- Dash pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/3 cup coarsely chopped onion
- 3 slices bacon
Oven: 325°F | Equipment: greased 1-quart casserole
Instructions
- Fry bacon until crisp; set aside.
- Combine all ingredients except bacon in the casserole.
- Crumble bacon over the top.
- Bake about 30 minutes, until thoroughly warmed.
- Total cook time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4
Baked Beans Firemens Style
Ingredients
- 2 lb white kidney beans
- 1/4 lb salt pork or bacon, cut up
- 1 medium onion, cut up
- 1 lb brown sugar (dark if possible)
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard
- Dash ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon dry ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
Oven: 300°F | Equipment: 3-quart casserole or small roaster
Instructions
- Wash and sort beans; soak overnight.
- Drain, add fresh water, bring to a boil, then drain.
- Add fresh water, pork/bacon, and onion; simmer until beans are very tender.
- Stir in remaining ingredients.
- Transfer to a 3-quart casserole/roaster with enough liquid to be very soupy.
- Bake about 3 hours, until thickened to desired consistency.
- Total cook time: about 3 hours
- Servings: 12
Lima Beans and Sausages
Ingredients
- 1 package dried limas or 2 packages frozen green limas
- 3 medium onions
- 4 tablespoons bacon fat
- 2 cans tomato soup
- 1 cup liquid from beans
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
- 1/4 cup chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup vinegar
- Sausages or frankfurters (to top)
Oven: 350°F | Equipment: large casserole
Instructions
- Cook beans until tender.
- Sauté onions in bacon fat; add garlic.
- Add tomato soup and 1 cup bean liquid.
- Stir in mustard, chili sauce, Worcestershire, chili powder, salt, and vinegar; simmer about 30 minutes.
- Put beans in the casserole, add sauce, place sausages (or frankfurters) on top.
- Bake 1 hour. Serves 6.
- Total cook time: 1 hour (plus simmer time)
- Servings: 6
Total Cook Time - 1 hour
Equipment - large casserole
Servings - 6
Baked Bean Casserole FAQ
Can I make baked bean casserole ahead of time?
Yes. Many bean casseroles reheat well—cover and refrigerate, then warm in the oven until hot.
Why do some recipes bake “all day” at a low temperature?
Low, slow baking helps beans become tender and lets molasses, sugar, and seasonings develop a deeper flavor.
What if the beans dry out while baking?
Add a little reserved bean-cooking liquid or water as needed, then uncover near the end to brown the top.
Can I reduce or skip the meat?
Usually yes. Some recipes work well with less bacon or without hamburger—flavor will be milder but still good.