There is a guy at work who brings the same lunch variety everday: a Tupperware bowl filled with a mixture of different items (pasta, onions, sausage… etc.) it’s always different mixtures. He told me he has some book with recipes that begins with a canned food and you add your own variety.
So, I have a can of baked beans I want to experiment with.
Can anyone suggest a variety I can add to it (beyond just hotdogs). I am sick of just having a sandwich everyday!
Well, you died a quick death, my little thread. Just too lame for this world.
Shredded chicken? Shredded pork? Rice? All of the above? Are you just looking for stuff to add to the beans, or are you looking for recipes that involve a can of beans? I’m not sure what you mean by “add your own variety.” Are you just looking for toppings?
Beans demand, at the very least: onions, garlic, sausage, more onions, some more sausage, and maybe some more onions.
Chunks of ham (or turkey ham) are the obvious answer.
You saved it! 
What I mean, is what the others have posted; basically stuff to add to a can of beans to spice it up.
Let’s say I add onions and garlic^3, do I need to cook that first, then add to the beans and heat the whole as usual in a microwave. Me no cook, ya know?
Or if anyone wants to expand on the OP, go for it. I think my coworker once had some meal that started as a can of corn, then all kinds of stuff added in. Looked and smelled great!
Pork loin is so awesome with everything, I bet it’d be good with baked beans. You can get one that’s already marinated in a vacuum sealed pack, and it’s dead easy to cook (even I can do it!)
Cook it, chop it into cubes, put it in with the baked beans. I bet some coleslaw would be good with it too - mixed in, even!
Baked Beans, a layer of chunked chicken, Pepper Jack and Swiss melted, some red cabbage, sugar and vinegar, slaw garnished with pickled jalapeos to top.
Or make a Baked Bean Reuben… layered: Rye; then Corned beef sliced thin; the “topping” of baked beans mixed with Thousand Island Dresssing (Pickle Relish preferable), drained and rinsed sauerkraut, A touch of horseradish mustard; Swiss Cheese… grilled to perfection.
Leave out the corned beef and use vegetarian baked beans for the true vegetarian (lacto-ovo) version of the meatless… Reubean. ;)
I think it would be a good drinking snack for our vegetarian friends. Gooey and hearty.
This recipe apparently comes from Bush’s Baked Beans, but I can’t find it on their website, so I’m not sure where I really got it. Anyway, it’s quite tasty, but I think it’s even tastier when you replace the apple with a tin of drained pineapple tidbits.
Apple Curry Beans
1 (28 oz) can vegetarian baked beans
1 cup thinly sliced carrot
1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/2 cup sliced green onion
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small Golden Delicious apple, chopped
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
Sauté carrot, red pepper, and onion in oil over medium-high heat until crisp-tender. Combine vegetables, beans and remaining ingredients in a lightly greased 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.
By the way: I think this originated as a feature in Men’s Health. Either way:
ETA: There are a series of these cookbooks - you should be able to find them via the link.
After you add all of those other things, add just a bit of either brewed coffee or a half-teaspoon of instant. It adds an interesting flavor to baked beans.
I just mentioned [post=11573845]this[/post]. Must be baked bean day (where’s a yummy smilie when you need it?)
I don’t see any mention of green bell peppers. They go great with beans. And of course onions and ham which have been mentioned.
And hot dogs 
Bacon. Totally bacon.
ditto.
Bacon. Li’l chunks of bacon.
And new stuff. If you’re only adding small amounts of stuff to ‘cut’ the beans with, you evil baked bean drug dealer, then I would say fair mixes of:
corn
peas
relish (really! I like it sweet!)
baby corn
etc…
gotta get your roughage, eh?
(PS: I’m trying to change my diet, so bear with me.)
Something I do on occasion that is very good- brown some hamburger and onion together, and mix with a can of baked beans, and add a cup or so of frozen corn, heat thru. It’s very, very yummy!
Ditto what PapSett said. I dislike any type of bell pepper, so that would never be an option for me.
To sassy up the hot dog/bean combo, add a can of pineapple chunks. Girl Scouts called it wahini beanies lol
I like lettuce and tomato and onion in beans. A little instant or brewed coffee and/or mustard powder makes them zing.