If you like baked beans you’ll go nuts over this clone recipe from the world’s first theme restaurant chain. It’s really easy to make too, since you just stir the ingredients into a covered casserole dish, and bake for an hour and a half. This makes the dish handy if transporting to another location for a party or potluck, since you can fill the dish, cover it, then pop it into the oven once you arrive. The only element that may give you pause is the pulled pork from the recipe that follows (on page 164) for Hard Rock Cafe Pig Sandwich. It’s an effortless addition if you’ve got some of that pork on hand. If not, just leave that ingredient out. Or you could add a couple tablespoons crumbled cooked bacon. Either way the beans will still come out great as a nosh-worthy side dish or solo snack.
SERVES 6 TO 8 AS A SIDE DISH
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 15-ounce cans pinto beans (with liquid)
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons diced onion
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- ½ cup shredded pork
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour entire contents of the can of pinto beans into a casserole dish (with a lid).
- Dissolve the cornstarch in a small bowl with the 2 tablespoons of water. Add this solution to the beans and stir.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the dish, stir well, and cover.
- Bake for 90 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Stir every 30 minutes. After removing the beans from the oven,let the beans cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
