BBQ Beans Recipe with Canned Beans
These BBQ baked beans with canned beans are the perfect side dish for any BBQ or family meal. With smoky bacon, tangy BBQ sauce, and a touch of sweetness from brown sugar, this easy recipe is customizable to your taste. A crowd-pleaser that pairs perfectly with grilled meats, burgers, or pulled pork.
Ingredients
- 8 slices of bacon partially cooked and released the drippings, or fully cooked bacon if you prefer
- 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce – use your favorite kind for the best flavor.
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder this adds heat – feel free to leave it out if you are sensitive to spice, or add more if you like the heat
- 1 teaspoon salt – more or less to preferred taste.
- 2 22 ounce cans of beans – I love to use Bush’s Grilling Beans. You can also use great northern beans, butter beans, or navy beans, but drain the beans and increase the barbeque sauce to 3/4 cup and the ketchup to 1/3 cup.
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Start by cooking your bacon. If you’re using partially cooked bacon, crisp it up in a pan over medium-high heat and let the bacon grease release. If you’re using fully cooked bacon, cook it and chop it into small pieces.
- In a large baking dish, add the entire contents of the can of beans (if using Bush’s Grilling Beans, no need to drain; if using regular canned beans, be sure to drain and rinse them first). Then, add the minced garlic, smoked paprika, apple cider vinegar, BBQ sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and brown sugar. Stir everything together until the beans are evenly coated with the sauce.
- Stir the cooked bacon into the bean mixture. For extra flavor, you can layer partially cooked strips of bacon on top of the beans before baking.
- Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 1 hour at 350°F. The beans will bubble up during this time, and the sauce will thicken.
- Once the beans are done baking, let them sit for about 10 minutes to cool and thicken slightly.
Notes
- Adjust the Flavor: Feel free to adjust the sweetness, tanginess, or heat to suit your taste. Add more brown sugar for extra sweetness, a splash of vinegar for more tang, or increase the chipotle powder for a spicier kick. You’re in control!
- Smoky Flavor: Add a little smoked BBQ rub to the mix if you want an even smokier flavor.
- Make Ahead: These beans are perfect for prepping ahead of time. Make them the day before and store them in the fridge. Reheat before serving for a fuss-free side dish.
- Add Bell Peppers: If you like extra texture and flavor, consider adding a green bell pepper. You can sauté them in the same pan as the bacon or add them raw to the bean mixture for an added crunch.
- Make it in the Slow Cooker: If you prefer to let your beans cook slowly, you can easily adapt this recipe for a crock pot. Add all the ingredients and cook on low for 3-4 hours. The flavors will have plenty of time to meld together, and you won’t have to worry about the beans in the oven.
- Swap the Bacon for Pulled Pork: For a heartier version, add pulled pork to the beans. This will give the beans a smoky, meaty flavor that’s perfect for a main dish or a filling side for a BBQ feast.
- Try Different Beans: While Bush’s Grilling Beans are a favorite for this recipe, feel free to experiment with other types of canned beans like great northern beans, butter beans, or even navy beans. You will want to increase the barbecue sauce to 3/4 cup and the ketchup to 1/3 cup if you use a plain variety of beans.