Baked beans are the quintessential side dish at any backyard BBQ, for good reason, they are both delicious and easy to make. I typically cook my baked beans on the smoker if it is on already, but you can cook them in the oven if you don’t have any meat on the smoker. You will gain a touch of smokey flavor by cooking them on the smoker, but these baked beans are fantastic regardless of how you cook them.
This is a recipe that I remember helping my Mother make each year in the ’80s and ’90s for my Dad’s company picnic. She would make enough baked beans for 50-60 people! This baked beans recipe comes together quickly if you don’t count the cooking time.
Start by dumping the beans into a pot. I use an enamel-covered cast iron pot. Dice up the bacon, fry it, but not too crispy, and then dump it into the beans. You can go two different ways with the onions. Cook them in the bacon grease, or dice them and add them directly to the beans. You will get more onion flavor if you do not cook the onions first. Next, add brown sugar, BBQ sauce, yellow mustard, ketchup, and Angry BBQ Sweet BBQ seasoning. Mix it up and get it on the smoker with no lid for a couple of hours.
BBQ Baked Beans Ingredients
- 55oz can baked beans (I used Bush’s Original)
- 1/2 lb bacon (thick-cut recommended)
- 1 Yellow Onion (medium size)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (dark brown preferred)
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp Angry BBQ sweet BBQ Rub
Substitutes
- Bacon: Turkey bacon or smoked sausage
- BBQ Sauce: Any sweet or Kansas City-style BBQ sauce.
- Sweet BBQ Rub: I use my Angry BBQ Sweet BBQ Rub.
Equipment
- Enamel-covered cast iron
- Frying pan for bacon
- Sharp knife
How to Make BBQ Baked Beans
Cook the Bacon
- Heat the frying pan over medium heat
- Dice the bacon into half-inch pieces and cook until it’s completely cooked but not crispy yet – you want some fat rendered, but the bacon shouldn’t be fully crispy.
- Onions: You can cook the onions with bacon grease, or you can add them directly to the beans without cooking them. The raw onions will give the beans more onion flavor. It’s your call.
Onion Tip
You can add the onions raw to the beans. The onions will get fully cooked while you are cooking the beans. This will give the beans slightly more onion flavor. The more popular option is to add the onions to the bacon grease and brown them for a few minutes before adding them to the beans.
Combine All The Ingredients
- Pour beans into your pot.
- Add the cooked bacon and the bacon grease.
- Add the onions.
- Add remaining ingredients: brown sugar, BBQ sauce, mustard, ketchup, and BBQ rub.
- Stir thoroughly to combine.
Cooking The BBQ Baked Beans
- Place the uncovered pot in the smoker or oven at 250°F.
- Cook for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Beans are done when they reach the desired thickness and onions are tender.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy Version: Add 1-2 diced jalapeños or serrano peppers and a teaspoon of chipotle powder
- Bourbon-Infused: Add two tablespoons of bourbon with the wet ingredients
- Meat Lover’s: Double the bacon and add 1/2 pound of smoked sausage.
What to Serve BBQ Baked Beans With
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these beans ahead of time? Yes, these beans actually improve in flavor when made 1 to 2 days ahead. Store in the refrigerator and reheat slowly on the stovetop, oven, or smoker at 250°F.
Why aren’t my beans thickening? Cook them uncovered, and the beans will thicken as they cook. The liquid will reduce and concentrate the flavors.
Can I freeze these beans? Yes, they freeze well for up to 3 months. I would recommend vacuum sealing these. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a saucepan, oven, or smoker. Stir occasionally and add a splash of water if the beans start to dry out.
Serving Size
This recipe serves 10-12 as a side dish. Cut all the ingredients in half for a smaller group of 4 people and use a smaller pot.
BBQ Baked Beans
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Frying Pan for bacon
- Sharp Knife
Ingredients
- 55 ounces Baked Beans (I used Bush's Original)
- 1/2 lb Bacon (Thick-cut recommended)
- 1/2 Yellow Onion
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup BBQ Sauce
- 2 tbsp Yellow Mustard
- 2 tbsp Ketchup
- 1 tsp Angry BBQ Sweet Rub
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon. Dice the bacon into half-inch pieces and cook until it's thoroughly cooked but not crispy yet – you want some fat rendered, but the bacon shouldn't be fully crispy.
- Onions: You can cook the onions with bacon grease, or you can add them directly to the beans without cooking them. The raw onions will give the beans more onion flavor. It’s your call.
- Pour beans into your pot. Add the cooked bacon and the bacon grease.
- Add the onions. If you didn't cook them in the bacon grease already.
- Add the brown sugar.
- Add the BBQ sauce.
- Add the ketchup and mustard
- Add the Sweet BBQ Rub.
- Stir thoroughly to combine. Place the uncovered pot in the smoker or oven at 250°F. Cook for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. Beans are done when they reach the desired thickness and onions are tender.
- Serve hot.
