The Fresh Fruit That Makes Canned Baked Beans 10x Better

Canned baked beans make for a trusty side, ready to sop up whatever flavors you throw in. You can make the food way better with caramelized onions or throw in ham hock for meaty smokiness. An addition that might not immediately come to mind? Fresh fruit, specifically apples.

Chop up some fruit into the legume, and you'll be surprised how well the ingredients mesh. It's no secret baked beans pair fabulously with sweet flavors: Apples deliver not only fruitiness, but a palatable tartness, too. While several apple varieties work in baked beans, Granny Smith is the go-to choice. This green and crisp apple type brings a complex flavor to beans while retaining a texture that won't turn to mush — perfect for the legume's starchiness. A win in both taste and consistency, it's an ingredient choice that makes canned baked beans magnitudes better.

Not to mention, pairing apples with baked beans is easy. Simply chop the fruit into approximately ¼-inch cubes, then briefly sweat them in a crock-pot or stovetop pot. Add in the beans, stir, and cook as usual, simmering until the flavors meld. You'll only need about one apple per can of baked beans to make this delicious combo happen.

Apples and baked beans in hand, you already have the components for a mouth-watering meal. However, you can take the rendition up a notch by rounding it out with a few additional aromatics. The dish can be as simple or elaborate as you please. With the addition of fruit, it's a good idea to lean into both a sweet and savory palate, reminiscent of a traditional Boston baked beans recipe. Sugar — specifically the complex notes of brown sugar — is a good call. The sweetener adds a caramelized depth to the beans; plus, it acts as a thickener.

Alongside the sweet, integrate an umami depth into the dish. You can use Worcestershire sauce and ketchup for savory flavors; the condiments are a tried-and-true bean flavoring. If you're feeling a more complex rendition, mix in some spice, too: cinnamon, mustard, or even a pour of bourbon. A few strips of bacon are never a bad call, either — the cured meat pairs well with the fruit. Simmered down, an apple-flavored batch of baked beans hits the spot.