I've used a recipe very close to this one for a long time. My one suggestion is to marinate the bean mixture with the bacon and onion mixture for at least 12 hours (overnight is best) before baking. It helps thicken up the sauce. You can also make this with whatever beans you have on hand -- try different versions of the Bush's baked beans and that changes it up too. This is definitely a keeper recipe if you are a baked bean fan!