Julie Clark
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3 Bean Baked Beans with Bacon (Old-Fashioned Church Cookbook Recipe)
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3 Bean Baked Beans are a classic potluck and picnic side dish. They are sweet, smoky, and satisfying with almost zero effort. This recipe uses just 8 ingredients, comes together in one bowl, and bakes into a bubbly, bacon-topped casserole that disappears fast.
I adapted this recipe from a Mennonite church cookbook out of Berlin, Ohio. It’s old-fashioned in the best possible way: simple ingredients, big flavor, made to feed a crowd. The maple bacon on top takes it from good to memorable.
To make it: fry and crumble a pound of bacon, mix everything together, pour it into an 8×8 pan, and bake at 350°F for about an hour. That’s it.
You’ll also love our church window cookies and Johnny Marzetti casserole.
What beans are in a 3 bean mix?
This recipe uses butter beans, great northern beans, and pork ‘n beans. It’s a combination that gives you creamy texture, mild earthiness, and a built-in sweet-savory sauce base from the pork ‘n beans.
- Butter beans — creamy and tender, they hold their shape well after baking
- Great northern beans — mild and smooth, they absorb the brown sugar sauce beautifully
- Pork ‘n beans — don’t fully drain these; that tomato sauce adds body to the whole dish
Want to swap? Lima beans or red/white kidney beans work well in place of either. See our calico beans for a variation that uses a different three-bean lineup.
Ingredients Needed
You’ll only need 8 ingredients, many of which are pantry staples. See the recipe card below for full amounts.
Make 3 Bean Baked Beans in 4 Steps
- Fry the bacon in a large skillet until it is crisp, drain off any fat on paper towels, and then crumble it into small pieces. Divide the bacon in half and set aside.
- In a medium size bowl, combine the 3 cans of beans, half of the bacon, ketchup, brown sugar, onions and mustard. Mix well.
- Pour the bean mixture into an 8×8″ baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining bacon on top of the beans. Sprinkle with additional 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar.
- Bake in a 350ºF preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until it is bubbly throughout.
Recipe Variations
- Add extra spices: black pepper, chili powder, or for heat, cayenne pepper!
- Swap ½ cup of ketchup for barbecue sauce for bbq baked beans.
- Add ½ pound of cooked and crumbled ground beef or sausage for even more protein.
Make it a meal.
Baked beans are always good with homemade burgers and hot dogs or brats, but what about when you want something a little different?
Frequently Asked Questions
What beans are in a 3 bean mix?
In this recipe, the three beans are butter beans, great northern beans, and pork ‘n beans. Each brings something different: creaminess, mild starch, and a built-in saucy base. You can substitute lima beans or kidney beans if needed, but this combination is what gives the dish its classic texture and flavor.
Can I make 3 bean baked beans ahead of time?
Yes, this is a great make-ahead dish. Mix everything together, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. You may need to add 5–10 minutes to the bake time if going straight from the fridge.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
You can. Combine all ingredients in a 4-quart slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours. The sauce will thicken as it cooks. Add the remaining bacon on top in the last 30 minutes so it doesn’t get lost in the mix.
Love Beans?
Try one of our other favorite recipes:
3 Bean Baked Beans
Just 8 ingredients make up this 3 Bean Baked Beans casserole. It's a perfect side dish recipe for your picnic or potluck. Use maple bacon for extra flavor!
Servings 8
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound sliced bacon cooked and crumbled
- 16 ounces butter beans 1 can, drained and rinsed
- 15.5 ounces great northern beans 1 can, drained and rinsed
- 16 ounces pork ‘n beans 1 can, liquid drained off the top
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 medium white onion diced (about ½ cup)
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- Additional 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar
Instructions
- Fry the bacon, drain off any fat, and then crumble it into small pieces. Divide the bacon in half and set aside. 1 pound sliced bacon
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- In a medium size bowl, combine the 3 cans of beans, half of the bacon, ketchup, brown sugar, onions and mustard. Mix well. 16 ounces butter beans, 15.5 ounces great northern beans, 16 ounces pork ‘n beans, 1 cup ketchup, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 medium white onion, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- Pour the bean mixture into an 8×8" baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining bacon on top of the beans. Sprinkle with additional 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar. Additional 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar
- Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until it is bubbly throughout.
Video
Notes
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 8, with 1 serving being ⅛ of the beans. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **
Nutrition
Calories: 515kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 896mg | Potassium: 914mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 176IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 4mg
Delish bean dish! I’ve made it for BBQ potlucks and it is always a hit.
Q: What’s your favorite picnic side dish?
A: Desert! ^_~
Oh, an actual side item would be potato salad
I’m always snitching pieces of bacon when I cook with it! This looks so awesome for a picnic this summer!