Our Favorite Saucy, Smoky Baked Beans.
Okay hi! It’s basically officially summer so let’s just start doing the whole baked beans thing.
Because it’s time! It’s really time.
Even if you are making them for yourself. You’re worth the good beans, I’m telling you.
If you’ve been here long enough you may remember when I didn’t even like these summer favorite beans.
Times have changed!
Years ago I made these bourbon beans and they hooked me. Seriously, hooked me! They turned me into a baked bean lover and now I’m convinced that no outdoor cookout, barbecue or summer meal is complete without a side of baked beans.
Now.
While I do really love these slow cooker bourbon baked beans, this here is the recipe I’ve found myself making more often for the last few years. Probably since I’ve had kids and had a little less time on my hands.
Also, I should warm you that it’s kind of semi-homemade. I mean, it’s definitely semi-homemade. Not kind of.
But they are so easy!
While my slow cooker beans recipe uses dry beans (so, like, the entire recipe is from scratch), I actually used canned baked beans in this one and I LOVE them. Since making this, I’ve become quite the baked bean snob over here. I’ve tried many different brands and varieties but for this particular recipe, I always come back to the Bush’s Grillin’ Beans. Specially, we love the southern pit bbq or the bourbon bacon flavor. They are so good in this recipe!
That being said, you can use whatever can of baked beans you can find. Just throwing out my random recommendations in case you want them.
I find that this recipe yields a thicker, more syrupy baked bean, in a really good way if that makes sense. Don’t let it scare you off! They are not overly sweet, but they are obviously still sweet.
However, there is enough dijon, smoked paprika and chipotle in here that it’s no overwhelmingly sweet.
Yes. So much flavor.
I have adapted this over the years from Ree’s recipe. Her’s are absolutely amazing, they just make a ton of baked beans! And even when we have a party or I take the beans somewhere, I don’t need that many. Lots of people in my family have an aversion to baked beans – hey, even I had one up until the last decade!
My mom still puts cut up hot dogs in her baked beans and I just… cannot. I mean, I love a good hot dog. We ate hot dogs this past weekend; felt like summer. I just don’t want them cut up in my baked beans!
P.S. if any of you have been around long enough, do you remember when I discovered my obsession with baked beans and loved putting them on top of poached or fried eggs, on toast? That was SO GOOD. Def doing it again.
Anyway.
This makes a “nice” sized amount, even if I just make them for our family. We eat, save a bit for leftovers and freeze the rest if I don’t give it away. It’s perfect!
Give me a plate of these with a smash burger and I’m good to go!
Baked Beans
Favorite Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 2 sliced bacon, diced
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 TO 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 (22 ounce) cans baked beans (I love Bush’s Grillin’ Beans for this recipe)
- 2 slices bacon, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Heat a large (oven safe, if you don’t want to transfer) skillet over medium-low heat and add the bacon. Cook until it’s brown and crisp and most of the fat is rendered.
- Stit in the onion, pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until everything softens, about 5 minutes. Stir in the paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard and brown sugar until combined.
- Stir in the baked beans directly from the can. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn off the heat. I suggest tasting the beans here and adding more salt, pepper or heat if desired. If you'd like, you can lay a few strips of bacon on top of the beans here too!
- Place the skillet (or transfer to an oven-safe dish) in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until bubbly and syrup. Remove and let cool slightly before serving.
- You can make these ahead of time - cook them in the skillet then let cook to room temperature and cover, placing in the fridge. Bake the next day (or whenever you’re ready!).
- These also freeze well!
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Oh so saucy.
305 Comments on “Our Favorite Saucy, Smoky Baked Beans.”
Question- there are several varieties of grilling beans…which one does this recipe use?
read the recipe good lord
It was mentioned in the article, not in the recipe as the rude person said. “Specially, we love the southern pit bbq or the bourbon bacon flavor.”
Excellent. I didn’t have the chipotle chili powder or smoked paprika, but regular versions of both seemed to work well. I was told I’m now required to bring these beans to every neighborhood gathering.
The best baked beans
just made this using Bush’s Grilling Beans Steakhouse flavor. OMG, they are so good! I’m going to try with the Southern Pit beans next. Thanks for this great recipe!
Amazing! I love to tailor this recipe for our tastes. It never disappoints!
This recipe is amazing!! This side dish was everyone’s FAVORITE!!! Delish and so easy! Love love LOVE!
baked beans are a must,even before other salads/ cold stuff,mac,coleslaw,potato..(their nice though)..baked beans when done correctly are such a savory addition to a burger bbq cookout.
liquid smoke
paprika
pre sautéed onion,green pepper
skillet browned sausage,ground beef..
brown sugar/maple syrup
salt
ketchup/mustard
These were fantastic! They’re the perfect combination of salty, sweet, and smoky. We made them for a cookout and they were a big hit and disappeared quickly. I did a full video review on my YouTube channel, The Real Deal Recipe Reviews, where I always try to make recipes as written and give honest reviews and opinions. These are 100 star baked beans!
Anybody try this in a crockpot?
2 strips of bacon? why even add it? if you don’t do 6 strips you are not American. lol.
This is a great recipe! The only thing I changed is to omit the bacon in order to reduce the fat just a bit. Also, didn’t have chipotle powder so used the same quantity of chipotle chili flakes. Scrumptious and ‘seconds’ inducing.
Delicious! Made exactly as written and with Southern Pit BBQ beans.
Excellent baked bean recipe. I did use Bush’s Grillin’ Beans (1 can Bourbon and Brown Sugar and 1 can of Hot Honey). The Hot Honey beans gave it a bit of a kick. Looking forward to having it with my smoked brisket tonight.
Easy and delicious with a nice spice level.
If I’m taking this to a potluck in a crock pot, should I just reduce down the liquid on the stove top or would I need to put in the oven and then transfer to the crockpot?
This is hands down my favorite baked bean recipe!! I make it for our church picnic and family parties and it’s a hit! The flavor can’t be beat! Wondering if I simply double this(8xamout actually) or how to go about it?! Thank you!!
Great recipe!!! I made this as a double batch and substitute one can of bush beans for two cans of red kidney beans drained and washed. everyone loved it!!
Not very thick baked beans recipe. There was something I didn’t care for in the taste, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. But, obviously, I’m in the minority!