Cheddar baked beans cooked right on the grill are the ultimate retro summer side from the 1970s

Name: Cheddar baked beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 tbsp butter or margarine; 2 tbsp chopped onion; 1 16-oz. can Van Camp's Pork & Beans; 1 tbsp Stokely Chili Sauce; 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Categories: 1970s, Classic side dish recipes, Summer, Vintage advertisements

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Cheddar baked beans from 1973: Sometimes the best cookout sides are shockingly simple

Baked beans have been a cookout staple for generations, and this particular version — cooked right on the grill in a casserole dish with cheddar cheese melted in — fits perfectly into the outdoor cooking culture of the early 1970s. Back then, the grill was the center of summer entertaining, and side dishes that could go right alongside the main event were a practical kind of genius.

The recipe for cheddar baked beans is straightforward, with the canned pork and beans getting a boost from sautéed onion and chili sauce, then the whole thing goes into a casserole dish on the grill and finishes under a layer of shredded cheddar. Five ingredients, one pan, done. It’s easy to pull off for a crowd and hearty enough to hold its own on the plate.

This 1973 recipe also comes with a bonus: Sunshine Beans, a sweeter variation made with orange rind, brown sugar and catsup. Two takes on a summer classic, both grill-ready and built for backyard gatherings.

Simple summer recipes: Cook ’em right on the grill

Beans: One of America’s great simple pleasures.

Cheddar baked beans

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

5.0 Stars (1 Review)

Ingredients

1 tbsp butter or margarine
2 tbsp chopped onion
1 16-oz. can Van Camp's Pork & Beans
1 tbsp Stokely Chili Sauce
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Melt butter or margarine in saucepan. Add onion and cook until transparent. Stir in pork and beans and chili sauce.
Transfer to casserole dish and simmer thoroughly on grill.
Add cheese and cover until melted.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 146Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 327mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 7g

Click Americana offers approximate nutrition information as a general reference only, and we make no warranties regarding its accuracy. Please make any necessary calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, and consult with a qualified healthcare professional if you have dietary concerns.

ALSO SEE: Ann Page zesty baked beans & barbecue beans recipes (1955)

Bonus recipe: Sunshine Beans recipe

Ingredients

1 16-oz. can Van Camp’s Pork & Beans
1 tsp grated orange rind
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup Stokely’s Catsup

Directions

Combine pork and beans, orange rind, brown sugar and catsup in saucepan. Simmer gently for 20 minutes. Place in individual casserole dishes. Heat to serving temperature on grill. Garnish with orange slices.

Serves 4 to 6

ALSO SEE: 4 ways to enjoy franks and beans (1961)

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