Canned Baked Beans Get 10x Better Flavor From A Spicy Pantry Staple

When you're in the mood for baked beans (or, let's be real, signed up to bring them to a picnic) and you're short on time, it makes sense to turn to the canned stuff. Sometimes, however, the flavor can be a little lacking. You can certainly jazz up canned baked beans (we ranked our favorite Bush's baked beans, by the way) with your own seasonings, but we have a new way to add a little kick. All you need to do is grab a little can of green chiles from your pantry and stir them right in.

Canned green chiles work so well in baked beans because you already have some sweetness from the brown sugar that's typically included, and the slight heat of canned green chiles does a nice job of balancing the sweet flavor out. Beans do a great job, in general, of serving as a blank canvas for flavors, so baked beans are the perfect way to really let green chiles shine. Some baked beans recipes that include green chiles also recommend adding some diced onion to the mix; try caramelizing onions alongside fire-roasted green chiles before adding them to baked beans for a smoky, sweet taste.

There are a few things to consider before you use canned green chiles to kick up the heat in baked beans. First, give the beans a taste before you add any heat. If they already have some spice, use a light hand when adding chiles, and give it a taste each time you stir more into the mix to make sure you don't overdo it. While most canned green chiles are fairly mild, some certainly have a bit of a kick.

Another important point: canned chiles tend to have a decent amount of liquid in the can. While this liquid can add some flavor, drain it if your baked beans aren't thick by the time you add the chiles. If you really want to up the spice factor, consider adding jalapeño peppers and other ingredients that take canned beans up a notch.