Home cooks in some regions of the country sometimes use soda to flavor their baked beans, opting for fizzy favorites like Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper to give the beans a sweet depth of flavor and tenderize them at the same time. But what if you could buy them pre-flavored?
Bean purveyor Serious Bean Co. is getting in on the soda-flavored baked beans game. They’ve just released “Sweet and Sassy Dr. Pepper Baked Beans,” and they’re actually made with real Dr. Pepper. You can find them at Walmart, in store or online.
If you’ve never used soda in your cooking and you’re thinking, “Dr. Pepper and baked beans sound like a strange combo,” well, you’re not alone. Reviews for these new beans are mixed, with some fans saying they’re incredible and others saying it’s a culinary abomination.
Some argue that this classic recipe is nothing unusual, and is actually a family favorite for many Southerners:
That’s the best way to make baked beans! My grandparents lived in Waco, and this WAS our family “secret” recipe! 😀
— Sarah F (@FeistSarah) August 30, 2018
Still, not everyone is a fan. Twitter user @thecinemadoctor reported that they tasted like Dr. Pepper topped with paprika pepper, and he ended up tossing his beans in the trash:
Here’s my homage to COMMUNITY – a review of Dr. Pepper Baked Beans pic.twitter.com/InDzef53nT
— Drew Morton (@thecinemadoctor) September 23, 2018
Ouch. Not to worry, though. The Serious Bean Co. has other flavors if you aren’t into Dr. Pepper, including “Buckin’ Buffalo Beans” (made with real buffalo sauce) and JW’s Prized Cracked Pepper Baked Beans.
And here’s even more good news. No matter what flavor you opt for, beans have a variety of health benefits. In fact, one study found that people who eat beans may be less likely to die of a stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascular event. Additionally, since beans are filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, they may even reduce your risk of cancer. One recent study even showed that hemagglutinin (a substance found in legumes) can slow the growth of cancer.
Wow. Beans, beans, the more you eat — the longer you live? Maybe so.