Just the thought of this recipe for BBQ Baked Beans makes the top of my mouth hurt. Because willpower and baking beans simply do not mix.
This is my mom’s baked beans recipe and with it comes a flood of summer memories. Of coming home after a full, hot day swimming, swimming, swimming and diving and flipping and flirting at the pool. Then finally home to the coolness of the air conditioned house where my mom often had these babies on the stove, percolating their way towards dinner.
It took just one step through the door and me and my swimsuit soaked shorts were making a beeline for the stove. There was always a wooden spoon sitting to the side, laced with the dried sauce from my mom’s stirring of the baked beans. One lick and that set off the need for more.
That pot of beans were just begging me to take a bite. Just onnnnnne bite with a little morsel of each ingredient’s goodness. A few beans, onion and okay, green pepper too. I suppose it wouldn’t kill a teenager. And of course, a few extra sliced of barbeque sauce soaked bacon. That was always my favorite part. Because, I mean, bacon.
Those beans were bubbling hot. Literally bubbling. And I’d blow, and blow and debate on how long I could hold out for that first bite. And inevitably, I couldn’t take it one. second. longer. and I’d take the baked bean plunge and spoon that barbequed bite into my mouth. And ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS end up with a scorched roof of my mouth that would quickly blister and leave totally raw.
Which made for a challenging second bite.
But you can bet your barbequed baked bean dollar, I was always up for the task.
About the recipe:
This recipe makes enough to serve a group and makes a great take along dish for a summer get together. If you’re preparing for a smaller crowd and don’t want leftovers, you must be crazy. Because they’re the best part and eating them cold out of the refrigerator the next day is almost even better than the first day. But in case you still want less, cut the recipe in half, everything divides pretty easily but use 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar.
I use a 1 pound package of bacon in this recipe because to me, those bacon bites are the best part! Feel free to use less if you’d prefer.
I use canned pork & beans for this recipe because that’s what my mom has always done. My mother in law said her mother in law used to use Great Northern beans in her recipe. You can certainly experiment and mix and match. I think I’ll give it a try next time.
Even though it’s mixed in and cooked down, I still use a high quality barbeque sauce in this recipe since it’s the main flavor builder. And I go the easy route and buy it from the store instead of making homemade. This time around I used Stubb’s. I tend to choose a regular barbeque sauce instead of mesquite or honey flavors because of the extra mustard and brown sugar I add in.
The yellow mustard adds a vinegar tang to the dish. If you’re not a fan of tang, or vinegar, or mustard, start off with 1 teaspoon instead of 1 tablespoon, and build your flavor from there.
The Best BBQ Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon sliced
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 3- pound 53 ounce can pork & beans
- 1 cup barbeque sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon mustard
Instructions
- Bring a dutch oven or large pot to medium high heat and add the sliced bacon. Cook for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until bacon begins to crisp. Drain the bacon slices on a plate lined with a paper towel, and reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings in the pan, discard the rest.
- Add the green bell pepper and onion to the bacon drippings and cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables soften, stirring often. Add the pork & beans, barbeque sauce, brown sugar and mustard and stir to combine. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 1 hour. Stir occasionally so the beans don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
5 More Bean Recipes to Love
Baked beans can be pretty basic, and are more often than not a staple at every backyard BBQ. While my version is obviously my favorite, these other options are looking pretttttttty fine.
Spicy Baked Black Beans with Vegetables
This veg-heavy baked bean goes well beyond a traditional side dish and could easily be served up as a main meal.
Recipe here.
Slow Cooker Maple Bourbon Baked Beans
This recipe featuring bourbon and maple spiked pinto beans may not be the quickest baked bean recipe on the list but it’s the perfect reason to keep that slow cooker ready and available during summer months.
Recipe here.
Southern Baked Beans Recipe
Thick and rich and full of Southern pride and molasses, these beans are topped with fat pieces of bacon for just another layer of to die for goodness.
Recipe here.
Pineapple Bacon Baked Beans
Pineapple caramelized in bacon fat! Why didn’t I think of that? Sweet, tangy and baked all in one bite.
Recipe here.
Chipotle Barbeque Baked Beans with Tempeh
I LOVE chipotle and this vegan version adds more bite with tempeh, and comfort thanks to a slow and delicious bake in the oven.
Recipe here.
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Bri | Bites of Bri says
Heidi, your timing is impeccable! My family is doing barbecue and baked beans for Fathers Day this weekend. I can’t decide which of these to make or should I make a few?! They all look so good!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
I am crying with happiness over this!! I just bought some heirloom beans at the farmers market and now I know what I’m doing with them!
Annalise @ Completely Delicious says
Definitely going to give your Mom’s recipe a try! I’ve yet to find my perfect baked bean recipe, sounds like this could be it!
Amanda says
Great BBQ Beans recipe! Will have to try this one out for our next cookout! :)
Millie l Add A Little says
Love the look of these bean! they look amazing!
http://youtube.com/addalittlefood
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen says
OMG these beans look so good. I love beans of any kind especially because I grew up in Brazil and down there we eat beans every day, no kidding ;-) The ingredients you used are almost the same ingredients Brazilians use too, but we like to cook beans in a pressure cooker cause it is faster. I’ve never had baked beans, but I must try it soon ;-)
Matt Robinson says
Your mom nailed it with these, what an awesome recipe. Totally reminds me of my childhood summers as well.
Janet says
I have never made baked beans before, but I have to say these look so good I will have to try them this weekend for our cookout.
Ruth Gepford Flaherty says
How were they?
Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out says
This recipe is absolutely something my boyfriend could in no way keep out of. Halve the recipe? Try needing to double it! ;-)
Thank you so much for sharing my recipe!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
Ahhhh that bacon pic!! Perfection. Must try these sometime this summer!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Mmmmmm beans! Your baked beans look amazing! And loving the other recipes you linked up too! Thanks for including mine :)
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Thanks for linking up that bean dish of mine and the tweet! I have another baked beans recipe with bourbon and bbq sauce that I made about a year ago and now I have a craving for baked beans seeing yours and all the others. Pinned yours!
Jan says
Your best BBQ beans remind me of a popular local BBQ joint who’s famous for their delicious BBQ beans. They use rib and smoked roast beef scraps instead of bacon and finely diced jalapenos instead of bell peppers along with a bit (2-3 Tablespoons) of apple cider vinegar. Give it a try!
ski wax kit cross country says
Valuable information. Fortunate me I discovered your site accidentally,
and I’m surprised why this coincidence did not took place earlier!
I bookmarked it.
Kelly says
In reading your recipe, I realized that you never actually state to re-add the cooked bacon. I’ll assume it’s at the same time you add the beans.
Jane Smith says
While the beans don’t look bad, I wouldn’t call this the best BBQ baked beans. It contains canned pork and beans. I’m sure there are better recipes out there that start from scratch, rather than a can of already baked beans. JMO
heidi says
Oh Jane! But they ARE! If you feel like it , you can certainly use baked beans or plain beans and add in all the goodies. That’s truly what makes this recipe. I use BBQ baked beans because that’s what my mom used. Or did she? I think she did!
Glenn Haller says
Its pork n beans!! If you make them from fresh beans, you spend the xtra time to boil, then you would add your tomatoe products, which puts you in the same place, hours later as ypu would be to use pork n beans. Not a big deal!
Amy R. says
I made this recipe for the 4th of July and my family loved them but honestly, I personally did not like the flavor..Not sure why. I think I’ll still make them again but I won’t partake in eating them.