I tried baked-bean recipes from Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, and Rachael Ray, and

• I tried three baked-bean recipes from Gordon Ramsay, Rachael Ray, and Giada De Laurentiis.
• Ray’s recipe called for precooked barbecue baked beans that overpowered the other ingredients.
• Giada’s recipe was hearty enough to be a stand-alone dish with a blend of smoky and sweet notes.

Baked beans are a classic and delicious side accompanying many American mains. Although supermarkets offer them ready-to-eat out of the can, adding tasty ingredients and a few extra steps can elevate the simple dish.

I decided to test out recipes from Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, and Rachael Ray to see which ones were worth making again.