Easy Baked Beans

Baked beans are a classic side dish for any barbecue. They pair well with smoked brisket, pulled pork, and ribs.

Most baked beans recipes will require soaking dry beans for hours then simmering all of the ingredients together for a few hours more. While the time and effort will be worth it, not everyone has time for that! This easy baked beans recipe will bring you some sweet, savory beans in only one hour!

Full Video – Easy Baked Beans

Ingredients for Easy Baked Beans Recipe

• Baked beans – sounds ironic, but we are adding our own flavors to it!
• Bacon
• Yellow onion
• Garlic
• Ketchup
• Brown sugar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Maple syrup
• Chili powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• Ground mustard

Why Use Cans of Baked Beans?

Traditional baked beans recipes call dried white beans, such as navy beans or cannellini. The process calls for soaking the beans for hours, then simmering with other ingredients for a few hours more.

Using canned baked beans, such as Bush’s Baked Beans, expedite the cooking process for BBQ baked beans. Combining with the other ingredients listed in the section above, we add our own flavors and make it better!

First Things First…

Before we start prepping ingredients, get the grill preheated to 350 degrees over indirect heat. Any smoking wood will go well with BBQ baked beans, but I’m going with hickory. Depending on the type of grill you’re using, it should take up to 30 minutes to get to temp.

Cooking Bacon and Onions

In a large cast iron skillet or a Dutch oven, cook three strips of diced bacon over medium heat. After two or three minutes, add in one diced yellow onion. Cook these two together until the onion pieces become translucent in appearance. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder, half teaspoon salt, half teaspoon pepper, and half teaspoon of ground mustard.

Once this happens, add in two cloves of minced garlic. We want to add garlic near the end as to not burn it. We want the garlic to still be fragrant and permeate into the easy baked beans recipe. Cook for another minute and then drain grease from pan.

Getting Saucy

To make a sauce for our BBQ baked beans, we are going to bring some more ingredients into the skillet. Start by adding in a half cup of ketchup and half cup of brown sugar. Add in two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of maple syrup. Mix these ingredients together and turn up the heat to medium high. Let ingredients rise to a simmer for three to five minutes.

Bring on the Beans

Pour in two cans of drained baked beans and stir until mixed together well. You’ll notice the difference in color between the brown baked beans and the red sauce we just made. This shows we are definitely adding our own flavors to the beans.

How Long Do I Smoke Baked Beans?

Now that all of the ingredients have been combined, take the skillet (or Dutch oven) out to the grill. These will cook for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Stir once during the cooking process as desired.

Once the 40 minutes are up, you’ll notice a deeper mahogany color to this dish. The consistency of the smoked baked beans will be less runny and now more thick. Remove from the grill and start serving up! But make sure to let cool for a minute or two before eating.

How Long are Easy Baked Beans Good For?

When stored in a sealed container, the BBQ baked beans will be good for up to five days. The beauty about baked beans is that they reheat very well. They even taste good cold!

Other BBQ Sides to Try

Smoked Mac and Cheese

Green Beans w/Bacon and Onion

Southern Corn Pudding

Grilled Elotes

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Easy Baked Beans Recipe

Easy Baked Beans

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Baked beans are a timeless side dish for any BBQ! Goes perfectly with brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and smoked turkey.

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Ingredients

• 2 - 28 oz. cans baked beans, drained
• 3 strips bacon, diced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 Cup ketchup
• 1/2 Cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp ground mustard

Instructions

1. Preheat grill to 350 degrees over indirect heat with hickory wood.
2. In large cast iron skillet, cook diced bacon over medium heat for two to three minutes. Add diced yellow onion and cook until translucent. Add minced garlic, chili powder, salt, pepper, and ground mustard and cook for another minute.
3. Add ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup to skillet. Stir in with other ingredients, turn temperature up to medium-high heat. Let simmer for five minutes.
4. Add the cans of drained baked beans into skillet. Stir with the sauce already created. Take to grill and cook for 40 minutes. Remove and serve.

Notes

1. Use a Dutch oven if large skillet (12 inches) isn't available.
2. Add a teaspoon of hot sauce to individual servings for more spice.
3. There will be a difference in color between the beans and sauce when you scoop them up. Stirring once while cooking is suggested to help with that.
4. Store in refrigerator for up to five days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 Cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 240Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 883mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 10gSugar: 20gProtein: 13g

Note: Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.