BBQ Bacon Baked Beans

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

-John 15:4 NLT

These BBQ Bacon Baked Beans are a sweet, smoky classic cookout side dish. Made with creamy cannellini beans, crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and using my homemade Cherry BBQ Sauce, they bring a delicious balance of savory, tangy, and slightly sweet flavors to the table.

The beans are easy to prepare and bake until the sauce becomes thick, glossy, and caramelized around the edges. I love finishing them with extra crispy bacon for a little color and extra crunch. When you bake these baked beans, stir about halfway through the cooking process. If you don’t notice the sauce thickening up to your desired consistency, add in the optional cornstarch slurry using 1 Tablespoon cornstarch to 1 Tablespoon water.

The longer these baked beans cook down, the more the flavors will meld together and they will melt in your mouth! These are perfect for summer cookouts, family dinners, potlucks, or anytime you’re serving barbecue. Pair them with grilled chicken, burgers, pulled pork, cornbread, or a fresh summer salad for an easy and flavorful spread.

If you’re looking for a way to make traditional baked beans a little more exciting, this recipe is definitely worth trying!

Lauren Eliza Eats

BBQ Bacon Baked Beans

These BBQ Bacon Baked Beans are a sweet, smoky, savory twist on classic baked beans. Cannellini white beans simmer with crispy bacon, caramelized onions, brown sugar, and homemade cherry BBQ sauce for a rich, flavorful side dish that's perfect for summer cookouts, backyard dinners, and potlucks.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 6 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
• 1 small yellow onion finely minced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 3 cans (15 oz) cannellini or navy beans washed and drained
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp molasses
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp water

Method

 

1. Preheat your oven to 375℉
2. Heat a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and crispy.
3. Transfer about ⅓ of the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate for topping later. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan and discard any excess.
4. Add the minced onion to the bacon fat. Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened and lightly caramelized.
5. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
6. Add the drained beans to the skillet.
7. Stir in the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
8. Add the remaining cooked bacon and stir everything together.
9. Transfer the skillet to the oven, uncovered. Depending on how full your pan is, place a baking tray underneath in the oven for any spill over sauce.
10. Bake for 35-45 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
11. When you stir halfway through, add your cornstarch slurry to make the bake bean thicker and glossy.
12. The beans should be bubbling around the edges and the sauce should be thick, and slightly caramelized.
13. Remove from the oven and let the beans rest for about 5–10 minutes. They'll continue to thicken as they cool. Serve warm