This Smoked Baked Beans Recipe with Bacon is the perfect side dish for any outdoor gathering. This is a quick and easy recipe made with canned beans that are kicked up a notch with a thick and bubbly brown sugar sauce, then topped with crisp smoky bacon. Everyone will love the rich smoky flavor in this delicious side dish. It is perfect for backyard BBQs, summer potlucks, family dinners, or anytime!
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Smoked baked beans are one of my favorite things to make on my pellet grill. This recipe has been on repeat all summer long at my house. It is the ultimate BBQ side dish.
Each bite of these delicious beans packs a punch of flavor. The smoky flavor pairs perfectly with the sweet and savory sauce, and the beans are cooked to perfection.
These BBQ baked beans are perfect any time of year, and can even be made in the oven or slow cooker if you don't have a pellet grill. Find the instructions below for how to do this.
My simple and classic recipe for baked beans inspired this smoked beans recipe.
If you have a pellet smoker, then you know how the smoky flavor elevates everything to the next level.
And these smoky beans are no different. The flavor is off the charts. Seriously. They are so good. We never have leftovers of these BBQ beans.
I don't know if it's the smoky bacon, or the smoke itself, or both, but...wow! You have to try this recipe. I'm sure it will become a new favorite of yours as well.
These beans pair well with everything from hot dogs and Smoked Sausages to Smoked Beef Brisket, smoked pork belly, Smoked Pork Butt, and Smoked Pork Chops.
👩🏻🍳 More easy side dish recipes
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- These baked beans in a smoker are one of the best side dishes you will ever make.
- The prep time for these beans is only about 15 minutes.
- This recipe is easy to make and only requires simple ingredients. Nothing fancy here! This is not a long recipe that uses dry beans that have to be soaked overnight.
- This is hands-off cooking once you put the ingredients together. The pellet grill does all the work. This will allow plenty of time for you to visit with your guests.
- This is the perfect side dish to take to summer potlucks or serve at any outdoor gathering.
- These bacon-topped baked beans have such a great flavor, and they make a great cookout dish. The smoked flavor of the beans pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the sauce.
- These can be cooked alongside your main dish, as they can be smoked at the same temperature.
- This dish is packed with protein, making it hearty and filling. They can be served as a side dish or main course.
- This recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd.
- These beans reheat beautifully, making them great for meal prep.
🥓 Ingredients
Just simple ingredients are required to make this delicious smoked baked beans recipe. You might even have everything on hand already!
- Bacon. I used regular bacon.
- Onion. I used a fresh red onion from my garden.
- Jalapeno pepper. I used a fresh-picked jalapeno pepper from my greenhouse.
- Pork and beans. I used pork and beans that were in a tomato base. You can use Bush's baked beans or Heinz baked beans, or your favorite kind. There are lots of options, and they will all work!
- Black beans. I used organic black beans. Rinse well and remove excess liquid.
- Brown sugar. I used light brown sugar.
- Maple syrup. I used pure organic maple syrup.
- Prepared mustard. I used yellow mustard.
- BBQ sauce. I used Stubbs, it's what I had open in my fridge.
See the recipe card for quantities.
♨️ Instructions for smoking baked beans
Chop slices of bacon into 1.5-inch pieces.
Place a large cast iron skillet on the smoker grate. Heat smoker to 350 degrees F. Add chunks of bacon to the pan. Cook bacon until it just starts to crisp up.
Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with a paper towel.
Add diced onion and jalapeno pepper to the skillet, and cook directly in the bacon grease. Cook for 4-5 minutes, until they begin to soften and the onion begins to get translucent. Turn the smoker down to 225 degrees F.
Next, add the cans of pork and beans, black beans, brown sugar, maple syrup, yellow mustard, and BBQ sauce to the cast iron pan. Stir the bean mixture well to combine all the ingredients.
Place the bacon pieces on top of the beans.
Close the lid of the smoker, and smoke beans for 1-2 hours. The longer they smoke the stronger the smoke flavor will be. I prefer to smoke them for about 2 hours for the best flavor. The bacon should be nice and crispy on top.
Using oven mitts, remove the cast iron pan from the pellet grill. Give everything a good stir, and serve with your favorite dishes.
Enjoy!
HINT: You can also cook the bacon, onion, and jalapeno pepper in a pan on the stovetop. Then combine all of the ingredients in a disposable aluminum pan.
You can also air-fry bacon instead if you like.
📋 Substitutions
You can easily swap out ingredients to make these beans. Some good options are:
- Bacon - you can use thick-cut bacon, turkey bacon, ham, or sausage. You can also add pork burnt ends.... yum!
- Onion - instead of red onion, you can use sweet yellow onion, white onion, or green onions.
- Jalapeno pepper - instead of jalapeno pepper, you can use a red bell pepper or green pepper. Add extra jalapeno peppers for a spicier dish, or add red pepper flakes.
- Pork and beans - You can use any type of pork and beans, they will all work great.
- Black beans - you can use different beans, such as pinto beans or navy beans.
- Brown sugar - You could also use dark brown sugar for a richer taste, or use your favorite sweetener.
- Maple syrup - You could also omit the maple syrup, or add a little bit extra brown sugar. But, for the best flavor, I would definitely add the syrup.
- Yellow mustard - You can also use Dijon mustard or ⅛ teaspoon of dry mustard.
🧾 Variations
If you'd rather, this delicious baked beans recipe can also be made in the oven, stovetop, or slow cooker. You can add 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke to get that wonderful smoke flavor.
- Oven: Cook the bacon, onion, and pepper, and then combine all the ingredients in a large casserole dish. Cover, and place in a 350 degree F oven for about 1 hour, until thick and syrupy.
- Stovetop: Cook the bacon, onion, and pepper, and then combine all the ingredients in a Dutch oven. Simmer the bean mixture for about 30 minutes.
- Slow Cooker: Cook the bacon, onion, and pepper, and then combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
🍽 Equipment
To make this delicious side dish, you will need a smoker. There are many different models and types of smokers, and they may cook differently.
I made this recipe in a Pit Boss pellet smoker. However, you can also use any other smoker such as a Traeger grill, Char-Broil, Master Chef, ZGrill, Lousiana grill, Big Green Egg, or Masterbuilt smoker.
I also used hickory wood pellets, which gave these beans a fantastic flavor. But, of course, feel free to use your favorite wood pellets.
🌡️ Storage
Fridge: Store leftover smoked beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can store them for up to three days.
Freezer: Freeze smoked baked beans by placing cooled beans in a freezer bag or airtight container, and store them in the freezer for up to two months.
💭 Top tips
- Be sure to drain and rinse black beans well before using.
- Do not overcook the bacon. Cook it just until the edges start to crisp up. It will finish cooking on top of the bean mixture while it smokes.
- This makes a large batch, enough for 12 servings. To feed a smaller group, divide the ingredients in half.
- Cook the beans at the same temperature as any meat that you may be smoking; both 225 or 250 degrees will work for this recipe.
🥗 How to serve smoked baked beans
These beans are a great side dish for any summer BBQ. These beans can be served in a variety of ways. Some great options are:
- Serve as a main dish
- Serve with grilled or smoked beef, chicken, or pork.
- They go great alongside a salad or vegetables.
- Top your favorite burgers with these beans.
- Add them to a wrap for a filling meal.
- Add them on top of a grilled cheese sandwich.
These smoked baked beans are the perfect side dish for your next barbecue! They're easy to make and full of flavor.
The pellet grill adds a delicious smoky flavor that takes these beans over the top. They are so good, you might not be able to stop eating them!
I hope you enjoy this smoked baked beans recipe as much as I do!
If you try it out and like it, I would appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a star rating and/or comment in the comments section below. 🙂
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You can also Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Tag me in your photos @windingcreek_ranch!
📋 Recipe
The Best Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon
Equipment
- Pellet smoker
- Large cast iron skillet or disposable aluminum pan
- Large spoon for mixing
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon cut in 1½-inch pieces
- ¾ cup red onion, diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
- 3 cans pork and beans 14 oz cans
- 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 14 oz can
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Place a large cast iron skillet on the smoker grate. Heat smoker to 350 degrees F. Add chopped bacon to the pan, and cook until bacon just starts to get crisp. Remove the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel.
- Add diced onion and jalapeno pepper to the cast iron skillet, and cook directly in the bacon grease. Cook for 4-5 minutes, until they begin to soften and the onion begins to get translucent. Turn the smoker down to 225 degrees F.
- Add the pork and beans, black beans, brown sugar, maple syrup, yellow mustard, and BBQ sauce to the cast iron pan. Give everything a good stir to mix it up really well.
- Place the bacon pieces on top of the bean mixture.
- Close the lid of the smoker, and smoke beans for 1-2 hours. The longer they smoke the stronger the smoke flavor will be. I prefer them to smoke for about 2 hours for optimal flavor. The bacon should be nice and crispy on top.
- Using oven mitts, remove the beans from the pellet grill. Mix everything together really well, and serve with your favorite main dishes.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- You can also use a disposable aluminum pan instead of a cast iron pan. Just cook the bacon first, then the onion and pepper on a pan on the stovetop. Then, mix everything together in the aluminum pan and add bacon on top.
- Be sure to drain and rinse black beans well before using.
- Do not overcook the bacon. Cook it just until the edges start to crisp up. It will finish cooking on top of the bean mixture while it smokes.
- This makes a large batch, enough for 12 servings. To feed a smaller group, divide the ingredients in half.
- Cook the beans at the same temperature as any meat that you may be smoking; both 225 or 250 degrees will work for this recipe.
Nutrition
❓ FAQ
If you want a more intense flavor, use stronger smoked wood like mesquite or hickory. For a milder flavor, use fruitwood like apple or cherry wood.
It takes 1 to 2 hours to smoke baked beans. The longer they smoke, the stronger the smoke flavor will be.
Yes, of course! Smoked canned baked beans in a cast iron skillet or a disposable aluminum pan.
Beans are very healthy as they are high in protein, fiber, and other nutrients. However, this recipe uses canned beans which may be high in sugar and salt, with added bacon, brown sugar, and maple syrup to jazz them up. These beans are delicious but should be enjoyed in moderation.
📑Food safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
Sue
I love the flavor the smoker gives these beans! YUM!