On May 4, 2026, Brian Dillon embarked on a culinary journey familiar to many but rarely approached with such scientific rigor: the search for the best supermarket baked beans in the UK. With baked beans being a staple on breakfast tables and lunch plates across the country, it’s a wonder more people haven’t tried to settle the debate once and for all. Dillon’s mission? To taste and score the own-brand baked beans from seven major UK supermarkets, cooked strictly according to the can’s instructions—no seasoning, no extras, just beans in their purest, sauciest form.
For this taste test, Dillon set aside his usual flavor-boosting tricks—no paprika, salt, pepper, cumin, soy sauce, or Worcestershire sauce. As he explained, “I wanted to find out which tin is the tastiest when it is eaten just as it is.” Each tin was judged on three criteria: consistency and sweetness (each scored out of 5), and overall flavour (scored out of 10), for a possible total of 20 points. The results were as revealing as they were surprising, offering a fresh perspective on a beloved British classic.
Let’s start from the bottom of the ranking, where Dillon found little to celebrate. Aldi’s baked beans, priced at a modest 40p, came in last with a score of just 7.5 out of 20. According to Dillon, these beans were “the blandest of the bunch.” He described the sauce as “rather watery compared to the other beans,” and admitted, “I really needed a lot more flavour, and I was tempted to reach for the spice rack to give them a bit more richness.” For those who don’t mind blandness and plan to doctor their beans with spices anyway, Aldi’s price might still appeal, but they’re unlikely to win any taste awards.
Just above Aldi was M&S, with a tin costing 55p and a score of 9.5 out of 20. M&S’s beans, notably, contain no added sugar—a detail that Dillon felt was unfortunately evident. “Overall, it needs a lot more richness. A little more sweetness would have gone a long way,” he wrote. However, he did note that the consistency was “okay, and it was nice and saucy after the beans were cooked as per the tin’s instructions.” For those seeking a lower-sugar option and planning to add their own seasonings, M&S could be a reasonable choice, but flavor purists will likely be left wanting.
In fifth place, Sainsbury’s baked beans were the cheapest on the list at just 30p. They scored 10 out of 20, with Dillon highlighting a “watery texture” and “weak flavour.” He observed, “It felt like there was just a bit too much sauce for the beans, which didn’t make for the best eating experience.” Still, Sainsbury’s beans could be a budget-friendly base for those willing to add salt and spices. As Dillon put it, “Adding a little bit of salt and some spices would make this a pretty cheap lunch option for households on a budget.”
Waitrose, with beans priced at 55p, managed a more respectable 15.5 out of 20. Dillon found these had “a decent flavour, but it’s not the strongest.” He praised the consistency and the “nice amount of sauce for the beans,” but admitted he “would have liked a slightly stronger flavour.” While not the standout of the group, Waitrose offered a solid, if unremarkable, tin of beans that might satisfy those with milder tastes.
Entering the top three, Lidl’s beans, costing just 40p, scored an impressive 16.5 out of 20. Dillon was “pretty happy with the baked beans from Lidl,” noting that they were “sweet, but they could have been slightly sweeter.” He raved about the “perfect” consistency and the appealing color and bean-to-sauce ratio. “For just 40p, this is a solid budget product that I would buy again,” he concluded. Lidl’s showing demonstrates that low price doesn’t have to mean low quality.
Tesco’s entry, at 42p, nearly clinched the top spot with a score of 17.5 out of 20. Dillon described these beans as having “a lovely sweetness without being overpowering.” He found the flavour rich and the aroma inviting, though he noted that “the consistency just took a bit longer to cook to get it right.” For under 50p, Tesco’s beans “certainly do the job,” earning them a well-deserved place among the best of the bunch.
But the real surprise came with the winner: Co-op’s own-brand baked beans, costing 47p, which scored a remarkable 18 out of 20. What set them apart? The first thing Dillon noticed was “the colour, which was much darker than other beans I had tried as part of this taste test.” That darker color, he felt, was promising—and he wasn’t disappointed. “The rich flavour and sweetness hit instantly, and the sauce was definitely the strongest-tasting in the whole experiment.” For Dillon, Co-op’s beans stood head and shoulders above the rest, combining depth of flavour, appealing sweetness, and a sauce that delivered the kind of punch many other tins lacked.
Looking at the results, it’s clear that price was not always a predictor of quality. Lidl and Tesco, both budget-friendly options, outperformed more expensive brands like Waitrose and M&S. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s offered the lowest price but failed to impress on taste or texture. For bean lovers looking to maximize value without sacrificing flavour, Dillon’s findings suggest that Co-op, Tesco, and Lidl are the tins to reach for on your next supermarket run.
This taste test also highlights just how much variety exists in what might seem a simple product. From watery sauces to rich, dark gravies, from bland beans to those bursting with sweetness and depth, the humble baked bean is anything but uniform across supermarket shelves. Dillon’s experiment, conducted with an open mind and a clean palate, offers a valuable service to shoppers who might otherwise stick to habit or be swayed by price alone.
For those who enjoy customizing their beans with spices and sauces, the lower-ranked options like Aldi and Sainsbury’s might still serve as a blank canvas. But for anyone seeking the best straight-from-the-tin experience, Co-op’s baked beans have, at least for now, claimed the crown.
In the end, Dillon’s baked bean quest proves that even the most everyday foods can surprise us—sometimes, all it takes is a little curiosity and a willingness to try something new.