Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). This helps ensure your beans will be bubbling and delicious by the time they’re done baking, so don’t skip this step!

Take a large oven-safe skillet (if you have it; otherwise, any skillet works) and heat it over medium-low heat. Dice the bacon and add it to the skillet. Cook until it's nice and crispy, allowing the fat to render out. You can smell the goodness already!

Next, toss in your chopped onions and bell pepper. Stir them around until they soften, about five minutes, and then add the minced garlic. You want everything to be fragrant and lovely.

Now it’s time to sprinkle in the smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, salt, and cracked black pepper. Cook for another minute or two, stirring constantly. This will awaken the flavors and create a base that’s to die for!

Pour in the apple cider vinegar, BBQ sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix everything until it's well combined, bringing it to a gentle boil. Lastly, stir in the canned baked beans directly from the can. Be careful! Things might get a little bubbly; our goal is delicious, not explosive.

At this point, it's worth tasting the mixture. If you wish, add more salt, pepper, or even more chipotle for extra heat. If you like, lay those extra slices of bacon on top for a lovely finishing touch.

Carefully place your skillet in the preheated oven (or transfer it to an oven-safe baking dish). Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes, or until the beans are bubbling and slightly caramelized on top. The smell should be incredible!

Once done, remove the skillet from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before serving. This resting time can deepen the flavors even more.