A Memorial Day cookout with family and friends feels like the official start of summer, even if the kids have a few more days of school and the weather is still fickle. No cookout is complete without a side of baked beans to go along with your standard burgers and hot dogs on the grill. When it comes to baked beans, there are endless recipe variations and you can really play with ingredients to make your baked beans uniquely yours. From the classics that never go out of style to new combinations of ingredients, this collection of crowd-pleasing baked bean recipes are perfect for your holiday weekend cookout.
Randall Apple Bean Bake
Boston Baked Beans
Boston baked beans are filled with the flavors you’d expect in a traditional baked bean dish. The sauce is sweet and smoky from brown sugar, molasses and smoked bacon, then accented by spicy ground cloves and pepper for a sauce that takes white beans to the next level. The recipe is for 8-10 servings but you might consider making a double batch since everyone will be coming back for seconds!
Randall Apple Bean Bake
This is one of our most requested recipes from Randall Beans fans. The combination of tart cooking apples and hearty white beans are delicious when baked with brown sugar and good old ketchup. The apples soften and caramelize when baked for a sweet and savory flavor. To keep the dish from being too sweet, it’s seasoned with cinnamon, molasses and salt. Not just for cookouts, you can serve these beans any time of year – keep this recipe in mind for winter holidays, too!
Sassy Baked Beans
Ever wished for a lighter version of baked beans? We swap out traditional ketchup and brown sugar and sub in salsa and diced tomatoes. All those veggies give the beans a chunky, rustic texture compared to classic baked beans. Try a spicy habanero salsa for a serious kick, or add diced tomatoes with green chilies to up the spice factor. We love to serve this dish along with a big plate of cornbread, but it’s also at home next to your cookout burgers and hot dogs.
What baked beans do you serve at your Memorial Day cookout?
Bring the Celebration home with Randall Great Northern Beans
