BBQ Baked Beans Recipe
This BBQ Baked Beans recipe combines smoky bacon with a hearty blend of great northern and black beans, simmered in a flavorful mixture of barbecue sauce, cola, and spices. Slow-baked to perfection, these beans offer a sweet, tangy, and smoky side dish that’s perfect for summer cookouts or cozy meals year-round.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound bacon, diced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 large jalapeño, seeded and diced (or 1 green bell pepper)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
Beans
- 4 cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
Flavorings and Sauces
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (plus more to taste)
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup cola
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 275°F to prepare for slow baking the beans.
- Cook bacon: In a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add the diced bacon. Cook until the fat renders and the bacon softens, then continue cooking until the bacon starts to crisp.
- Reserve fat: Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside. Leave about one tablespoon of the rendered bacon fat in the skillet for sautéing the vegetables.
- Sauté vegetables: Add the diced onion, jalapeño (or green bell pepper), and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion softens and the aromas develop.
- Combine ingredients: Stir in the drained great northern beans, black beans, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, cola, apple cider vinegar, molasses, Dijon mustard, tomato paste, kosher salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Mix well to blend all flavors evenly. Return the cooked bacon to the skillet and stir to incorporate.
- Bake beans: Place the skillet uncovered in the preheated oven. Bake for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to allow the sauce to thicken evenly. Taste and add up to 1/4 cup more brown sugar if you prefer the beans sweeter. Stir thoroughly to dissolve the sugar.
- Cool and serve: Remove the skillet from the oven and let the beans cool for a few minutes. Serve the beans warm as a delicious side dish.
Notes
- For a milder flavor, substitute the jalapeño with green bell pepper as indicated.
- Use a cast-iron skillet or an oven-safe dish to ensure even cooking during baking.
- Adjust sweetness by adding more brown sugar according to your preference after baking.
- These beans can be made ahead and re-heated; flavors improve when rested overnight.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and substitute with smoked paprika or liquid smoke for a similar smoky taste.
Keywords: BBQ baked beans, baked beans with bacon, smoky baked beans, barbecue side dish, great northern beans recipe, easy baked beans
Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/bbq-baked-beans-recipe/
