Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

baked beans, aldine hotel style

(35 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Michelle Koletar/Mertz
Harrisburg, PA

This is a very old & popular recipe from my hometown of Sunbury, PA. I love most styles of baked beans, but this the only way I make them. So easy. The flavor of the bacon simmering within the beans is what gives this such amazing taste, I think. For those of you who are used to all the ketchup & additions to baked beans, you will be surprised the intense flavor you get from this recipe! You can halve this recipe, as this serves a LOT.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

What a terrific, simple side dish! We love the sweet edge of these easy beans and cannot wait to make them for our next pot luck.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(35 ratings)
yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 15 Min
cook time 3 Hr 30 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For baked beans, aldine hotel style

  • 4 lb
    canned, northern beans (undrained)
  • 2 c
    white sugar
  • 2 Tbsp
    white vinegar
  • 3/4 lb
    bacon, uncooked
  • black pepper
  • 1
    large onion

How To Make baked beans, aldine hotel style

  • 1
    I like to freeze the bacon first so that it is easy to cut. Cut the bacon up in bite-sized pieces.
  • 2
    Drain the beans, reserving the liquid in a big bowl! Make sure you don't discard the bean liquid. Put the beans in a 9 x 13 or larger pan. (I have used a Dutch Oven for this too).
  • 3
    To the bean liquid, add the diced bacon and mix in sugar, vinegar, diced onion, bacon & black pepper. Pour over top of beans & stir.
  • 4
    Bake at 350 degrees for 3-4 hours. The bacon will get nice & brown. You will want to stir every hour or more often to ensure even cooking. I add a little bit of water every once in awhile when I stir, if it seems as if the liquid is being too absorbed. Be very generous w/ sprinkling black pepper often, as well. I have never salted the beans or this dish, as the bacon gives it plenty of salt flavor, I have found. You also can pop all of this in the crockpot & cook on low, then brown a bit in the oven when you are ready.
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