Move over beans on toast, it’s time for an easy and delicious Toasted Cheesy Baked Bean Sandwich!
If you love the classic British beans on toast, this is a fun take: a grilled cheese-style baked bean sandwich with melty cheddar and optional crispy bacon. It’s simple, comforting, and perfect for breakfast, brunch or a quick lunch.
Baked Beans
Instead of just spooning cold beans into bread, I like to cook them briefly with diced bacon. Frying the bacon renders fat and adds depth; stirring the beans in lets you reduce the sauce so it’s thick and less likely to soak the bread. If you don’t eat pork, skip the bacon and reduce the beans the same way.
Do you warm beans up before putting them in a toastie?
You can use room-temperature beans, but heating and reducing them is recommended. Thicker beans stay in the sandwich better and give a more satisfying texture.
Grilled Cheese
The sandwich is essentially a grilled cheese (no toastie machine needed). Use a sturdy bread that will hold the beans—avoid thin, soft sandwich slices that will fall apart.
What cheese to use?
Mature cheddar is my top choice for its sharpness and good melting quality. It pairs beautifully with the tomato-sweetness of baked beans.
Worcestershire Sauce
A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce over the beans are optional but highly recommended if you like that tangy, umami boost.
Serving Baked Bean Sandwiches
This sandwich works great for breakfast or brunch. Serve as-is, or pair with hash browns or other crispy sides for a heartier meal.
Ready for the full recipe?
How to make Baked Bean Sandwiches (Full Recipe & Video)
Baked Bean Sandwiches
Equipment
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2 Medium Sized Pans
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Wooden Spoon
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Spatula/Turner
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Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
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Cheese Grater
Ingredients
- 6 thick slices of Bread (see notes)
- 1x 14oz/400g can of Baked Beans
- 3.5oz / 100g Bacon, diced (optional)
- 1.5 cups / 150g Cheddar, grated
- Worcestershire Sauce (optional)
- Butter, as needed
Instructions
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Beans: In a medium pan over medium heat, add the diced bacon and fry until crispy and the fat has rendered. Pour in the baked beans and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces and the beans are fairly thick. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
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Sandwich: Spread one side of each bread slice with butter. Place three slices butter-side-down in a pan or on a board, sprinkle a layer of cheddar onto each, top with the reduced beans and a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce if using, then add more cheddar and finish with the remaining slices of bread butter-side-up.
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Fry: Heat a pan over medium heat and cook the sandwiches (in batches if needed) until golden and the cheese starts to ooze, flipping once. Serve hot and enjoy.
Quick Demo
Notes
For more similar recipes check out these beauties:
- Proper Sausage Sandwich
- Spam Sandwiches
- Cheese and Pickle Sandwich
- Cheese and Marmite Sandwich
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