What to do with a giant can of baked beans?

Question

My husband likes to eat canned baked beans with the turkey pot pies I make in the wintertime. So, I ordered for curbside pickup what I thought was a pack of eight cans of baked beans ... what I ended up with was one giant, 7-pound can. I’m not super crazy about these things but I want to make something with them just to get them off my counter and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions? Some kind of stew or interesting way to dress them up? Alternately I guess I could just divide them up into meal sized portions and freeze them. Thanks!

Answer

Donate to a food bank. Or divide and freeze.

Answer

Oh, the joys of ordering for delivery or pickup...

I'm on the "freeze" side too; the idea of cooking in at least onion and garlic, maybe also other veg and/or peppers, spices,... seems appealing, so that they are ready to heat and eat. Maybe your husband would also like some small packages, for the occasional lunch? Bean things can be nice with e.g. sour cream or yogurt, or with bacon, or as tim says beans on some good toast -

Answer

I'm with GH1618: donate to a food bank or food kitchen.

Answer

This Four Bean Casserole (aka Cowbowy Beans) maindish freezes well, makes a lot of servings and uses 28 oz (1 3/4 pounds) of baked beans, so a double batch would solve half your troubles, if you have the freezer space. http://www.chowhound.com/post/comfort-food-freezes-905972?commentId=8143481

Answer

Beanies and weenies. Cornbread on the side. Roast a couple of marshmallows and make s'mores.
https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/beanies-and-weenies/

Answer

Give it to a homeless shelter, they need all the food they can get.

Answer

I agree with freezing or donating.. also curios as to what a 7lb can looks like. I may have to Google it.

Answer

Thanks for all the replies! Kind of leaning towards donating ... you could probably feed a full house with that one can.

Answer

The donation idea is a fine one. 

And the can-to-table cassoulet is a great one. I would drain, reserve and reduce the "sauce" without further cooking the beans, and then knock yourself out with onion, garlic, garlic sausage, confit (chicken thighs are fine), dry mustard, wine tomato paste, Red Boat, etc., etc. Add the beans back in late. Some good vinegar atop, some good toast alongside, and Heaven.

Portion it out and freeze the bulk of it.

Answer

My mama did them this way and so do I and so do my sons: Mix canned baked beans with extra brown sugar and ketchup. Put them in a baking pan and totally cover the top with bacon. Bake for about an hour. You can freeze this. A good quick supper with salad & deviled eggs and a good whole wheat bread. Also if you are invited to take something to a potluck dinner or church supper or holiday party, your whole giant can of beans, plus a couple of pounds of bacon, fixed this way, will for sure be popular.

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