At every family reunion and church potluck, my aunt’s five-bean casserole disappeared faster than any other dish on the table. She called it her “baked beans quintet” because it featured five different types of beans, each contributing its unique texture and flavor to create the ultimate comfort food side dish. The smoky bacon, sweet molasses, and tangy sauce transform simple canned beans into something extraordinary that feeds a crowd.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The magic happens when five bean varieties combine their unique textures and flavors. Butter beans provide creaminess, lima beans add heartiness, pork and beans contribute smoky depth, kidney beans offer a firm texture, and chickpeas bring the nutty flavor. The bacon fat renders into the sauce while molasses and brown sugar create the signature sweet-tangy glaze that caramelizes during baking.
Ingredients
- Bacon slices – Provides smoky flavor and rendered fat that enriches the entire dish
- Yellow onion – Adds sweetness and aromatic depth that complements the beans
- Fresh garlic – Contributes savory foundation and enhances overall flavor complexity
- Butter beans – Delivers creamy texture and mild flavor that absorbs sauce beautifully
- Lima beans – Provides hearty substance and slightly different texture from butter beans
- Pork and beans – Adds smoky depth and pre-seasoned flavor base to the mixture
- Red kidney beans – Contributes firm texture and classic bean flavor that holds shape well
- Chickpeas – Brings nutty flavor and different texture to create interesting variety
- Ketchup – Creates tangy tomato base and helps bind all flavors together
- Molasses – Provides signature sweetness and deep, complex flavor that defines baked beans
- Brown sugar – Adds caramelized sweetness and helps create glossy, thick sauce
- Worcestershire sauce – Contributes umami depth and enhances savory elements
- Prepared mustard – Adds tangy bite that balances sweetness and cuts richness
- Black pepper – Provides subtle heat and enhances all other flavors
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set oven to 350°F and lightly grease a large casserole dish.
- Cook bacon: In large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon slices until crispy, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add aromatics: Add chopped onion and minced garlic to skillet with bacon and cook until onion softens, about 3-4 minutes.
- Drain mixture: Remove bacon mixture from heat and drain well on paper towels to remove excess fat.
- Prepare beans: Open all canned beans and drain thoroughly in a colander, rinsing if desired.
- Combine beans:Â In the prepared casserole dish, mix all five varieties of drained beans with the cooked bacon mixture.
- To make the sauce, whisk together ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
- Combine everything:Â Pour the sauce mixture over the beans in a casserole dish and stir gently to coat evenly.
- Bake covered: Cover casserole with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Finish uncovered: Remove foil and continue baking for 15 minutes until sauce thickens and edges bubble.
- Rest before serving: Let stand 10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set properly.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: Store covered in airtight container for up to 5 days. Flavors improve after first day of storage.
- Reheating Method: Reheat in 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes until heated through, or microwave individual portions for 2-3 minutes.
- Freezing: Freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
Baked Beans Quintet – Five-Bean Casserole with Bacon
Hearty five-bean casserole with crispy bacon in sweet molasses sauce. This crowd-pleasing side dish feeds a family and perfect for potlucks.
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Servings: 8
Calories: 539kcal
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 16 ounces butterbeans
- 16 ounces lima beans
- 16 ounces Pork and beans
- 16 ounces Red Kidney beans
- 16 ounces Chick peas
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup firmly packed Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Prepared Mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon, chopped onion, and garlic in a skillet, when bacon is cooked; drain well. Combine bacon mixture along with all of the canned beans, pour into a casserole dish. Combine the remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour ketchup mixture over the beans in the casserole dish, stir slightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Nutrition
Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 93g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 841mg | Potassium: 1484mg | Fiber: 19g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Vitamin C: 5.8mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 7.9mg
These were great baked beans.