Loaded Southern BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon Recipe
When it comes to summer time, backyard BBQs and cookouts are the name of the game. One of my favorite side dishes to make are these loaded southern BBQ baked beans with bacon. They are sweet and full of flavor with just a little bit of heat. The best part is this perfect comfort food can be made in the slow cooker so you can set it and forget it. Let me show you how to make the best baked beans for all your summer gatherings that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Full recipe card below.
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What are Baked Beans?
Baked beans have been around for quite some time and were very popular among native Americans and early US settlers as a main dish because they were very filling and inexpensive.
Today baked beans are a classic side dish made with beans and a sweet sauce often containing brown sugar, molasses, or maple syrup. While hearty baked beans are a popular dish in much of the United States, different regions have their signature components. In New England baked beans are frequently made with maple syrup vs Boston beans are usually made with molasses. In the south baked beans usually include bacon. Then there are cowboy beans which are popular in the southwestern US. While these have a similar taste to baked beans, they are more like a chili with the addition of ground beef.
Why I Love this Recipe
This easy baked bean recipe is a very hearty side dish and is perfect for a summer cookout or picnic. It pairs really well with BBQ meats and can be made in the slow cooker. This always gets rave reviews and reheats well the next day.
Southern BBQ Baked Beans Ingredients
This perfect side dish uses simple ingredients you probably already have stocked in your kitchen and can be made in the crock pot. Let me walk you through what I used and where substitutions can be made.
Beans – The key ingredient! A lot of from scratch baked bean recipes use a variety of beans in their dry form which usually require an overnight soak. I took the easy way out here and used canned pork n beans and doctored them up. So while they are not canned baked beans like Bushes, they are not from scratch either. You can definitely modify the recipe and use different dry types of beans like navy beans and great northern beans, but it is not necessary.
​Bacon – Who doesn’t love bacon! My favorite store bought bacon is the maple flavor. It adds a level of sweetness to the saltiness and it makes the whole house smell like pancakes! But feel free to use whatever brand or flavor you want. You can also use turkey bacon if you want. And while I love crispy bacon for breakfast, you want to undercook the bacon here because it will cook more in the beans.
Ketchup –  I used plain old ketchup as the base along with the tomato sauce that comes in the cans of beans. Any regular ketchup will work, but I used the bottle of Heinz I had in my fridge.
BBQ Sauce – This adds a little sweetness to the otherwise savory dish. I used Sweet Baby Rays but you can use your favorite sweet, smoky or tangy barbecue sauce.
Onion – Adding fresh onion to beans is very common and adds extra flavor to the sauce. I normally use a white or yellow onion diced small. To speed up the chopping process, I use this slicer. It is truly a game changer when it comes to prep work and it can shred cheese too!
Green Peppers – I like to add a green bell pepper for added flavor which is very common in baked bean recipes.
Worcestershire Sauce – The ingredient no one can pronounce correctly. You just tried to say it, didn’t you? Haha! This potent sauce will add quite a bit of umami flavor with sweet, salty, and sour all at once.
Brown Sugar – It is traditional to use brown sugar when making baked beans which adds some sweetness. I usually use light brown sugar but you can use dark as well. Just note that dark brown sugar is sweeter because it contains more molasses.
Mustard – This is also a very common ingredient in baked beans. I used plain yellow mustard but you can also use Dijon mustard, dry mustard, or spicy brown mustard if you prefer.
Garlic  – I normally use real garlic from the jar when I cook, but I think garlic powder works better here. If you do not have garlic powder you can use minced garlic too. If you choose to use real garlic you will need more. Substitute 1/2 tsp of garlic powder for 4 garlic cloves
Cumin  – This is one of my favorite spices and adds a lot of flavor! Cumin is very earthy and has a lot of depth. If you don’t have this, get some! It is a versatile spice and found in many styles of cooking and spice rubs. This will compliment the sweetness in the sauce.
Smoked Paprika – As the name suggests, smoked paprika has a very smoky flavor yet quite earthy. This will round out the sweetness of the BBQ sauce and sugar. If you do not have smoked paprika regular paprika or liquid smoke would be the closest substitutes.
Cayenne Pepper – This is another one of my favorite spices. A little goes a long way to add heat to a dish. If you do not like a lot of spice or if you do not have cumin and cayenne, chili powder will be your best basic substitute for my seasoning blend.
Pepper – Like all dishes a little pepper goes a long way with the flavor.
Cooking Options
I made this recipe in the crockpot, but I have also made it in the oven before. During the summer I prefer to use the crock pot since I can bring it out to the patio. I used my smaller 4 quart pot for this and it was the perfect size.
If you don’t have a slow cooker you can bake this in the oven in a 9×13 baking dish on 350 degrees for one hour. I have not tested this on the stove top, but in theory it should work. I would use a Dutch oven and simmer on low for at least 1 hour, careful not to let it boil.
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Loaded Southern BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon Recipe
- Total Time: 11 minutes
- Yield: 10-14 servings 1x
Description
A simple combination of canned beans and a sweet sauce never tasted so good! These easy loaded southern BBQ baked beans with bacon are about to be your go to summer recipe for cookouts and picnics! The best part is this perfect comfort food can be made in the slow cooker so you can set it and forget it. Are you ready to try the baked beans that will have everyone coming back for seconds?
Ingredients
- 1/2 White Onion diced
- 1 Green Bell Pepper diced
- 6 Slices Bacon
- 2 large cans (56 oz total) Pork n beans
- 1/2 cup Ketchup
- 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp Yellow Mustard
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking pan with aluminum foil and a cooking rack. This is for the bacon.
- While the oven heats up, dice the green pepper and onion.
- Cook the bacon for 12 minutes until it is about 3/4 of the way cooked.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker.
- When the bacon is done, cut into small pieces (1-2 inches) and add them to the crock pot.
- Stir all the ingredients with a large spoon until combined. Set the slow cooker to the medium setting and cook for at least one hour.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Equipment
Notes
You can cook the beans longer than a hour, but reduce it to the lowest setting after the first hour so they do not burn.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 1
- Category: Sides
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
How to Reheat
If you have leftover baked beans you have a few options for reheating. I personally think reheating in the microwave is the easiest option for this easy recipe. Spread out a small portion on a plate and microwave in 40 second intervals until the center is warm.
You can also reheat them in the slow cooker during family gatherings or backyard BBQs. Just leave it in the slow cooker on the lowest setting to keep them warm for your guests.
You can also reheat leftovers in an oven safe dish in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until the center is warm. Note, reheating in the oven may dry out the beans so I do recommend covering it with aluminum foil first.
When to Make BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon
This comforting side dish is always a crowd pleaser at my summer cookouts and I am frequently asked for the recipe. It is a great recipe for a party or as a side with hot dogs, pork chops, or smoked meats. You can also double the recipe for a potluck or family reunion with a lot of people. No matter when you decide to make it, these loaded southern BBQ baked beans will definitely become your favorite beans to make.
Looking for more side dishes for your next family gathering or summer cookout? Check out my smashburger recipe without a Blackstone, sweet and spicy homemade coleslaw, summer white sangria recipe with vodka, homemade guacamole with jalapenos, or my Italian pesto pasta salad with pepperoni.
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