Cook up a batch of my Homemade Baked Beans for your next BBQ or cookout and be ready to impress your family and guests with the amazing flavors of the absolute best Baked Beans recipe! Sweet, savory and a bit smoky these Baked Beans with Bacon are the perfect side dish to serve this summer!
If you need to bring the perfect classic side dish to a potluck, this easy baked bean recipe is always a hit. Some of our other favorite side dishes are this Mexican Three Bean Salad, Cilantro Lime Coleslaw and this easy Pesto Pasta Salad.
The Best Baked Beans
There are thousands of recipes for baked beans out there, not to mention the convenience of everyone’s favorite can of beans – Bush’s Baked Beans – in an assortment of flavors and styles from Southern baked beans, to old fashioned and everything in between! And let’s not forget the popular pork and beans!
So if you are wondering why should you make this recipe, let me tell you why this recipe for BBQ baked beans is totally worth cooking at home:
- Quick and Easy: As much as I love a good baked beans recipe made from scratch, I also love the convenience of a good shortcut! By using canned beans, this recipe is made quicker and easier.
- Bacon: Yes, it’s true. Bacon makes things better, especially beans!
- Award winning quality with homemade flavor: We may use a shortcut but this easy baked bean recipe has complex flavors and tastes amazing. You’ll be proud of serving them and may even consider entering the recipe into a BBQ competition!
Baked Beans Recipe Ingredients
For exact quantities please check the printable recipe card below.
- Beans: For this recipe I use a combination of canned pork and beans and baked beans. I usually get the “original” variety of baked beans.
- Bacon: Regular cut or thick cut works. Choose your favorite.
- Vegetables/Aromatics: Onions, I usually get brown or yellow onions. Green bell pepper and fresh garlic cloves.
- Beer: The alcohol in the beer will cook off leaving no trace of it. You can also use a combination of broth with a splash of apple cider vinegar.
- BBQ Sauce: When making homemade baked beans I prefer using original style BBQ sauce, if you like your beans on the spicy side, you can choose a BBQ sauce with a little heat!
- Molasses: I use unsulfured black strap molasses.
- Brown Sugar: I love the flavor brown sugar adds to baked beans. Use dark or light brown sugar.
- Seasonings: Ground ginger (don’t skip it! Ginger adds such great flavor), dried mustard, salt and ground black pepper.
How To Make Baked Beans
These homemade baked beans are so easy to make. The oven will do most of the work while you sip a glass of wine or clean the house – up to you!
- Get Ready: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook the Bacon: Cook the bacon until crispy and transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Sauté the Vegetables/Aromatics: Remove all but about 1-2 tablespoon of bacon drippings. Add the onion and bell pepper and and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and cook for about a minute.
- Add Beer, Sauce and Seasonings: Add the beer and bring to a boil. Cook until half of the beer has evaporated. Stir in the BBQ sauce, molasses and sugar and mix to combine. Add the ginger and mustard and mix well.
- Add Beans and Bake: Add the Pork and Beans and Baked Beans and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and then, transfer into a 13 x 9 baking dish. Top with the bacon and bake for 1 hour.
Which Beans Are Used In Baked Beans?
This easy baked beans recipe uses two different kinds of canned beans, pork and beans and regular baked beans. Using canned beans makes the cooking process easier. Canned pork and beans are usually made with navy beans although some companies may use other bean types. Baked beans can be made with navy beans, pinto beans, kidney beans and cannellini beans among others.
Can I Make BBQ Beans In A Slow Cooker
Absolutely! You can make slow cooker baked beans if you prefer. After you cook the bacon, sauté the onions, bell pepper and garlic, add the beer and reduce it by cooking it for about 5 minutes. Transfer this mixture to the crock pot and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. If you want the beans a bit thicker, remove the lid and slow cook for about 30 minutes or until the desired consistency is reached.
What Can I Use Instead Of Beer
Although the alcohol in the beer cooks off, you can substitute this ingredient if you wish. Here are some good substitutions:
- Instead of a cup of beer, use 1 cup of broth mixed with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Chicken broth or beef broth can be used.
- Use Root Beer, Dr. Pepper or Ginger Ale.
- You can use apple juice or apple cider.
Storing And Freezing
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
- To freeze, cool the beans completely and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat, covered in a 325 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until heated through.
Baked Beans Recipe Tips
- If you don’t have molasses, use maple syrup and preferably dark brown sugar.
- If you prefer extra smokey baked beans, add about 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke.
- For spicier beans, add 2 serrano or jalapeno peppers or get spicy BBQ sauce instead of the regular kind.
- To make homemade baked beans, I use a 13×9 (3 qt) baking dish.
Take A Look At Some Of Our Favorite BBQ recipes:
- Grilled Pork Chops
- Carne Asada Recipe
- Grilled Chicken Breast
- Grilled Corn with Orange Honey Butter
- Grilled Lamb Chops
The Best Homemade Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 8 ounces bacon chopped
- 1 onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 tablespoons garlic minced
- 1 cup beer
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon dried mustard
- 2 (15 ounce) cans Pork and Beans, drained
- 1 (28 ounce) can Baked Beans, drained
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium pot over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
- Remove all but about 1-2 tablespoon of bacon drippings. Add the onion and bell pepper and and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the beer and bring to a boil. Cook for about 4-5 minutes or until half of the beer has evaporated. Stir in the BBQ sauce, molasses and sugar and mix to combine. Add the ginger and mustard and mix well. Add the Pork and Beans and Baked Beans and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and then, transfer into a 13 x 9 baking dish. Top with the bacon and bake for 1 hour.
Recipe Notes
- Instead of a cup of beer, use 1 cup of broth mixed with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Chicken broth or beef broth can be used. Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, Ginger Ale, apple juice or apple cider are also good substitutes for the beer.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
- To freeze, cool the beans completely and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
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