Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Let bacon come to room temperature for easier chopping.

Cook the Bacon: Heat your cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until slightly crispy but still tender, about 5-7 minutes. Don’t overcook as it will continue cooking in the oven.

Drain Carefully: Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined bowl. Drain excess fat from skillet, leaving just the browned bits and a thin layer of fat for flavor.

Add Beans: Drain the top liquid layer from your baked beans only, then add beans to the skillet with the bacon drippings.

Layer the Flavors: Add all remaining ingredients directly to the skillet: diced onion, minced garlic, brown sugar, molasses, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Return the cooked bacon to the mixture.

Mix and Season: Stir everything together until well combined. The mixture should be thick but not dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Bake: Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, uncovered. The top should be slightly caramelized and the sauce thickened.

Rest and Serve: Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and sauce to thicken further.