The 1960s Ranch-Style Baked Beans That Deserve A Cookout Comeback

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Many home cooks and professional chefs alike put their own spin on baked beans, one of the classic cookout side dishes we all dig into from time to time. There are even different varieties of canned baked beans from brands like Bush's. But there's one style of the dish dating back to the 1960s that deserves a spot at your next cookout: Ranch-style baked beans. However, it might not be exactly what you expect.

In a June 1962 edition of Better Homes and Gardens, the food magazine featured ranch beans as one of three variations on classic baked beans. Now, if you're like me, your mind might go to baked beans seasoned with the same herbs and spices that go into ranch dressing — but think again. Instead, these baked beans use smoky and spicy ingredients to create a Tex-Mex flare that you could encounter on a ranch down south. Back in the 1960s, one of those ingredients was a few tablespoons of Open Pit, which is a brand of barbecue sauce that you can still buy today. A few other household ingredients like onion, garlic, green bell pepper, and molasses give it that ranch-style twist that is worth a try today.

You can turn both homemade baked beans or your favorite canned variety into a ranch-style side dish for any occasion. If you want to follow the original Better Homes and Gardens recipe, then saute bacon to make bacon sprinkles, and cook onions, garlic, and bell pepper in the bacon fat before combining them with your go-to baked beans, molasses, and barbecue sauce. The whole thing is then oven baked. You can also use a combination of ketchup, apple cider vinegar, and yellow mustard in place of the Open Pit barbecue sauce. Step the heat up with jalapeños, toasted New Mexico chili pods, or a dash of hot sauce like Tabasco. Spices like cumin or paprika, liquid smoke, liquid aminos, chipotles in adobo sauce, or even freshly-chopped cilantro are all surefire ways to put a ranch-style spin on those baked beans on your meal prep list this week.

If you prefer to make baked beans from scratch as the starting point, we have a few recipes. Our slow-cooker baked beans are ready in about two hours and already use some of the ranch-style ingredients like molasses and apple cider vinegar. Another option is this extra spicy baked beans recipe that has ancho chili peppers providing some heat. For more guidance, read our tips for making baked beans, including toasting your spices first.