A cookout isn’t a cookout with a side of BBQ Baked Beans. These beans are super easy to make and they are sweet, spicy, and smoky. They are a must for the family and one of my favori summer cookout side dishes.
No summer cookout is complete without a hearty serving of BBQ baked beans with bacon. This easy baked beans recipe transforms simple canned beans into a sweet, smoky, and savory side dish that’s perfect for backyard barbecues, family gatherings, and potluck dinners. With just a few pantry staples and crispy bacon, you’ll have restaurant-quality baked beans ready in under an hour.
Why This BBQ Baked Beans Recipe Works
Baked beans are the ultimate comfort food side dish that brings any meal together. Whether you’re serving them alongside grilled burgers, BBQ ribs, or classic hot dogs, these bacon baked beans deliver the perfect balance of sweet and smoky flavors. This recipe uses canned baked beans as a shortcut, making it ideal for busy weeknight dinners or last-minute cookout preparations.
The secret to elevating store-bought beans lies in layering flavors. By sautéing onions and garlic, adding brown sugar for sweetness, incorporating BBQ sauce for smokiness, and topping with crispy bacon, you create a side dish that tastes like it’s been slow-cooking all day.
Ingredients for Easy Baked Beans with Bacon
This simple baked beans recipe uses accessible ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry:
Canned Baked Beans: Use your preferred brand of baked beans in tomato sauce or brown sugar sauce. Bush’s Original Baked Beans or Van Camp’s work well for this recipe.
Bacon: 4-6 strips of thick-cut bacon provide the smoky, salty flavor that makes this dish irresistible. Cook until crispy and chop into bite-sized pieces.
Yellow Onion: One medium onion, diced and sautéed until translucent, adds depth and sweetness to the beans.
Garlic: 3-4 cloves of minced fresh garlic enhance the overall flavor profile.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create that signature baked bean glaze.
BBQ Sauce: Choose your favorite barbecue sauce to add smoky, tangy flavor. Kansas City-style or honey BBQ sauce work particularly well.
Smoked Paprika: This spice adds an extra layer of smokiness without overpowering the dish.
Yellow Mustard: A tablespoon of mustard adds tangy depth.
Worcestershire Sauce: Provides umami and complexity to the flavor profile.
How to Make BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon
Step 1: Prepare the Bacon
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove bacon and set aside on paper towels, leaving 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan.
Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables
Add diced onion to the bacon grease and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Step 3: Combine Ingredients
Add canned baked beans, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, smoked paprika, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet. Stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Step 4: Add Bacon and Bake
Chop half the cooked bacon and stir into the bean mixture. Reserve remaining bacon pieces for topping. Transfer to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and slightly thickened.
Step 5: Finish and Serve
Remove from oven and top with reserved bacon pieces. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Recipe Variations and Tips
Slow Cooker Baked Beans
For slow cooker baked beans, combine all ingredients in your crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. This method is perfect for meal prep or when oven space is limited.
Instant Pot Baked Beans
Use the sauté function to cook bacon and vegetables, then add remaining ingredients and pressure cook on high for 8 minutes with natural release.
Make-Ahead Tips
These baked beans actually taste better the next day as flavors continue to develop. Prepare up to 2 days in advance and reheat in the oven at 325°F until warmed through.
What to Serve with BBQ Baked Beans
BBQ baked beans pair perfectly with classic cookout favorites:
- Grilled hamburgers and hot dogs
- BBQ pulled pork or ribs
- Classic potato salad
- Deviled eggs
- Coleslaw
- Cornbread or dinner rolls
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store leftover baked beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. For longer storage, freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
To reheat, warm in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. For oven reheating, cover with foil and warm at 325°F for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes. you can make this recipe in a slow cooker if you wish or an Instapot. It really depends on your preference.
Yes. You can cook the bacon in pieces or large pieces. You can cook the veggies in the bacon grease to give more flavor to the baked beans.
This recipe lays out very well how to elevate the flavor of canned baked beans. I also have a baked beans recipe using ground beef that gives amazing flavor as well.
You can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.
Similar Recipes
If you like recipes like this baked beans recipe, you may enjoy the ones below:
- Baked Beans with Ground Beef
- Pasta Picnic Salad
- BBQ Bacon Cheeseburgers
- Hawaiian Beef Hot Dogs
- How to Make a Hot Dog Bar
BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 1x
Description
This is a great dish for a barbecue and something both kids and adults will love. BBQ baked beans with bacon is easy to cook outdoors.
Ingredients
- 2– 1lb. Cans of Baked Beans
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 5–6 bacon slices, chopped
- 1/4 c. light brown sugar
- 1/4. C. BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 tsp. Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. Smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp. Hot sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees. Spray a 9X11 baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside.
- Using a medium-sized saute skillet on medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a plate lined with a paper towel. Add the onions and cook until softened. Next, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Pour the baked beans into the baking dish. Add the cooked bacon, onions, and garlic. Also, add the light brown sugar, BBQ sauce, onion and garlic powder, smoked paprika, and hot sauce. Stir the ingredients with the bean mixture in the dish until combined.
- Bake in the heated oven for 25-30 minutes, uncovered. Once cooked, remove from oven and cover with aluminum foil until ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Hey Nicole,
This dish is incredible for the traditional breakfast in our country which is parata. Combined Parata and BBQ baked beans, delicious!
Awesome! I’m glad you liked it.