I chose eight different canned baked beans from brands that are mostly available nationwide. This list does not include every possible brand, of course, as I live in New England and don’t have immediate access to some large grocery chains. However, I feel like this is a strong representation of what you can likely find in your local stores.

I also avoided any versions that strayed far from traditional baked beans. For example, I skipped British-style baked beans or grilled-style beans.

How I Tested the Canned Baked Beans-
I heated the beans in a saucepan, placed a small serving in a glass bowl, and tasted each can with a spoon. I also used soft sandwich bread dipped into the servings to see how each tasted with a bit of pillowy starch.

The beans were judged based on appearance, smell, flavor, and texture. Some beans, for example, were swimming in very watery, almost broth-like sauces while others sat on top of rich and velvety sauces. Keep in mind these rankings are based on my preferences for baked beans: I like slightly sweet, creamy beans, with a bit of smokiness and tang, and a nice rich, thick sauce.
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8th Place: Field Day Organic Classic Baked Beans

I really hate sounding negative when reviewing food, but this can of baked beans wasn’t good at all. This is the only one on this list I would never buy again as the beans were chewy and they were practically swimming in a watery, flavorless broth rather than a rich sauce. They also had no discernible spices or flavoring other than sweet. This one is a hard pass.

7th Place: B&M Original Baked Beans@

While this New England brand has been around for about 150 years, it’s hard to say all that experience translates to an exceptional baked bean. However, the difference between the previous entry and this one is drastic. The B&M baked beans were substantially better than the last brand, but I found the molasses flavor overwhelming and even a bit off-putting. It was not strongly spiced and had virtually no smokiness. If you happen to love molasses-forward baked beans, this is absolutely the right choice for you. If not, you may want to skip it.

6th Place: Amy’s Organic VegetarianQ1 Baked Beans

Like the Field Day brand, Amy’s baked beans looked quite a bit different than the others on this list. Unlike the aforementioned brand, I actually like Amy’s beans just fine. These are very tomato-forward baked beans with just a touch of spice and sweetness. This brand is vegetarian, but, ironically, I want to eat these beans with sliced hot dogs for a bowl of franks and beans. These are perfectly solid baked beans, but they lack that rich, slightly smokey sauce compared to the others on this list.

5th Place: Saucy Spoon Sweet Hickory Flavor Baked Beans

Here again the quality of baked beans jumps up drastically. I really enjoyed Saucy Spoon’s Sweet Hickory Flavor Baked Beans because the sauce was by far the thickest and richest on this list. Plus, it had the most unique flavor profile. There’s no denying these beans have some serious smokey flavor, which I found quite delicious. However, after a couple of bites I found the hickory flavor a bit too strong for my liking. The thick, rich brown sugar sauce was mouthwatering. If the hickory level was tamed a bit, this would easily be in my Top 3.

4th Place: Westbrae Natural Organic Baked Beans

This is my family's go-to brand of canned beans, but I had no idea the company sells baked beans until this taste test. I’m glad I know now—because these baked beans are really good. While this brand sits right in the middle of the list, the beans taste excellent. The sweetness level is fairly mild with just a touch of molasses flavor. There is no discernable smokiness, however, which could have helped them feel a little more special. Still, this is a great option, especially if you are looking for an organic brand.

3rd Place: Bush’s Original Baked Beans

It should come as no surprise that Bush’s makes some great baked beans. Yes, the Top 3 slots on this list belong to Bush’s, but that’s because the company has practically perfected canned baked beans. The Original recipe was my favorite—until I tried the two other versions on this list. It has the classic baked bean flavor I love: slightly sweet, a little smokey, and just a hint of spices. What sets Bush’s apart is the balance of flavors. No element is too strong, meaning I easily gobbled up my serving and wanted another helping. The sauce is rich and thick, but not quite as special as the Top 2 on my list.

2nd Place: Bush’s Homestyle Baked Beans

These beans are incredibly tender and creamy, and the sauce has a bit more zip than the Original version. I appreciate that the Homestyle version has a bit more spice and a bit more tomato essence compared to the Original version. There is still a perfect balance of brown sugar sweetness, and the sauce is rich and thick. If you happen to like a more zesty, bright baked bean, this is the can for you.

1st Place Winner: Bush’s Country Style Baked Beans

I try not to have any preconceptions coming into a taste test like this. If anything, I expect the lesser-known brands to surprise me and shine above the big names. Well, that’s simply not the case with baked beans. My absolute favorite can of baked beans is Bush’s Country Style Baked Beans, which is, in essence, a jazzed up version of the Original. That’s right, Country Style has more brown sugar sweetness, more smokey bacon flavor, and an even thicker, richer sauce. This one ticked every box on my list of what makes baked beans great, and I think it’d be hard for me to make a more delicious homemade version. These are the baked beans I’ll bring to all my cookouts from now on, and I won’t be ashamed to admit they came from a can.