Baked beans are a classic BBQ side dish that can be found at many summer picnics and backyard cookouts. Their sweet, tomatoey flavor goes perfectly with grilled items like hamburgers and hot dogs. While you can certainly use canned baked beans, homemade BBQ baked beans made from scratch are incredibly easy and allow you to control the flavors. With a few simple ingredients and techniques, you can make tender beans in a sticky, spiced tomato sauce that will have everyone begging for seconds. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to make authentic BBQ baked beans right at home.

Ingredients Needed to Make BBQ Baked Beans

Making delicious homemade baked beans requires just a handful of ingredients. Here is what you’ll need:

Beans – Navy, great northern, cannellini, or pinto beans work well. You’ll need about 2 pounds dried beans or 5-6 cans beans drained and rinsed.
Onion – One large onion, finely diced. A yellow or white onion works best.
Garlic – 2-3 cloves garlic, minced.
Bacon – 8 ounces of bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped. Can substitute ham or omit for vegetarian beans.
Brown sugar – 1/2 cup packed brown sugar.
Molasses – 1/2 cup molasses. Brings deep, rich flavor.
Tomato sauce – One 29-ounce can tomato sauce.
Mustard – 2 tablespoons yellow mustard.
Vinegar – 2 tablespoons apple cider or white vinegar.
Worcestershire sauce – 1-2 tablespoons, to taste.
Seasonings – 1 1/2 teaspoons each salt, pepper and dry mustard.
Water – As needed to thin the sauce.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making BBQ Baked Beans

Follow this simple step-by-step method for baked beans with a sweet, tangy BBQ sauce:

Cook the Bacon and Onion

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Add the diced onion to the bacon drippings in the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes until softened and translucent.

Cook the Beans

Pour the beans into a colander and rinse thoroughly. Pick through and remove any stones or debris.
Transfer the beans to a large pot and cover with several inches of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour until the beans are fork tender but not falling apart.
Drain the beans and transfer them to a large baking dish. Preheat oven to 325°F.

Make the Sauce

In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, molasses, tomato sauce, mustard, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings until smooth.
Pour the sauce over the beans and stir gently until evenly coated. Mix in the cooked bacon and onions.

Bake the Beans

Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake for 30 minutes more.
If the beans look too dry, stir in a few tablespoons of water to loosen the sauce. Bake uncovered for 10 more minutes.
Remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tips for Making the Best Homemade BBQ Baked Beans

Follow these tips and tricks for baked beans with maximum flavor:

Soak the dried beans overnight in water before cooking for tender, evenly cooked beans.
Flavor the cooking water with smoked ham hocks, bacon, onion and garlic. Discard hocks before mixing with sauce.
Cook a mix of bean varieties, like navy, pinto and great northern, for more complex flavor.
Make the sauce ahead and let the flavors meld overnight in the fridge before baking.
Stir the beans halfway through baking to prevent scorching and evenly coat with sauce.
Add a dash of liquid smoke, chipotle pepper or Cajun seasoning for a smoky, spicy kick.
Garnish with chopped scallions, shredded cheese, crumbled bacon or cornbread croutons before serving.
Bake in a slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours for hands-off beans. Check occasionally for tenderness.
Freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat gently before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions About Making Baked Beans

Here are answers to some common questions about creating the perfect pot of sweet and savory baked beans:

Should the beans be soaked before cooking?

Yes, soaking the dried beans in water for 8 hours or overnight before cooking helps ensure evenly cooked beans that retain their shape when baking. Skip this step if using canned beans.

How long should the beans be baked?

Bake the beans for 60 minutes covered, then 30 more minutes uncovered until the sauce is thickened and beans are completely tender when pierced with a fork.

What type of bean is best for baked beans?

Small white beans like navy, great northern and cannellini hold their shape well when baked. Kidney and pinto beans also work. Avoid black beans, which turn grey.

Can the dish be made vegetarian?

Yes! Simply omit the bacon and use vegetable broth or water flavored with smoked paprika and salt instead. Meatless ham or bacon bits can also be used.

Should any liquid be added to the beans while baking?

If the beans start to look dry, add a few tablespoons of water or broth during baking to loosen the sauce and prevent scorching.

How can the beans have more smoke flavor?

Soak the beans in smoked turkey leg or ham hocks broth. Or add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the sauce. Smoked paprika also works for vegetarian beans.

Can the recipe be made ahead?

Yes! Prepare the entire recipe up to 2 days in advance. Cool completely before refrigerating. When ready to serve, bake until heated through.

Customizing Your Baked Beans

One of the great things about homemade baked beans is that the flavors are customizable to your tastes. Try these tasty mix-ins:

Different Proteins

Chopped ham, bacon, smoked sausage or leftover BBQ meat
Shredded rotisserie chicken
Crumbled cooked ground beef or chorizo

Veggie Add-Ins

Diced bell peppers – red, green, yellow
Grated carrots
Fire-roasted diced tomatoes
Corn kernels
Diced zucchini or squash

More Flavor Boosts

Bourbon, whiskey, beer or root beer
Dijon, whole grain or hot mustard
Minced pickled jalapenos for heat
Pureed roasted red peppers
Sriracha, chili garlic sauce or harissa
Worcestershire, steak sauce or A1 sauce
Chipotle chili powder or adobo sauce
Sauteed mushrooms or caramelized onions

Serving Suggestions for Baked Beans

BBQ baked beans are the perfect addition to any summer spread or cookout menu. Here are some fantastic ways to serve them:

Classic pairings include hamburgers, hot dogs and BBQ chicken or ribs. The sweet beans balance the savory meat.
Serve beans warm in bowls with cornbread muffins, biscuits or corn bread for dipping.
Top off a plate of smoked pulled pork, brisket or sausage with a scoop of beans.
For a vegetarian main dish, serve baked beans over rice with a green salad.
Use beans as a burger topping along with cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, etc.
Stuff peppers, squash or sweet potatoes with bean mixture and bake until tender.
For a hearty breakfast, spoon beans alongside eggs, hash browns and bacon or sausage.
For potlucks or parties, transfer to a slow cooker to keep beans heated and accessible.
Leftover baked beans are excellent mixed into soups or stews for added protein and fiber.

Now that you’re armed with all the tips and tricks for making classic homemade BBQ baked beans, it’s time to get cooking! Impress your family and friends with this sweet, smoky and satisfying side dish.

Human-Written Article on How to Make BBQ Baked Beans

Baked beans are an iconic side dish for summer barbecues and cookouts. Their mildly sweet, tomatoey sauce with a hint of smokiness is the perfect complement to charred burgers and dogs fresh off the grill. While you can certainly crack open a can, homemade baked beans made from scratch allow you to control the flavors and ingredients. With a few simple components like beans, onion, bacon and spices simmered in a homemade barbecue-style sauce, you can whip up a pot of this classic bean bake in just a few easy steps.

Here’s a simple recipe and guide to making tender baked beans enveloped in a sweet, tangy and slightly spicy sauce – no canned version can compare!

Ingredients

To make delicious baked beans from scratch, you’ll need:

1 pound dried navy beans, soaked overnight and drained
1 yellow onion, finely diced
4 strips bacon, cooked crispy and chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup yellow mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
2 bay leaves
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth, plus more if needed

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Rinse the soaked beans and transfer to a large pot. Cover with fresh water by 2-3 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 1 hour until the beans are fork tender but not falling apart. Drain and transfer to a 2-quart casserole dish.
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the onion in the bacon drippings until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
In a bowl, mix together the brown sugar, molasses, mustard, salt, peppers, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika and bay leaves. Whisk in the tomatoes and 2 cups broth until combined.
Pour the sauce over the cooked beans and mix well until fully coated. Bury the cooked bacon and onions into the beans. Cover the dish with foil.
Bake for 90 minutes, stirring halfway through. Uncover and continue baking 30 more minutes until the sauce is thickened and beans are very tender. Add more broth a tablespoon at a time if the beans are dry.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped scallions, if desired. Enjoy!

Tips

For extra richness, cook some minced salt pork or ham hocks in the pot with the beans. Discard before mixing with the sauce.
For convenience, canned beans can be substituted for dried. Rinse and drain 5-6 cans navy beans before assembling.
Stirring halfway through prevents the beans on top from drying out and scorching.
For more smoke flavor, use smoked paprika or add a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the sauce.
Serve warm with corn bread, biscuits or corn chips for scooping up the saucy beans.

Homemade baked beans are easy to make and infinitely better than just opening up a can. The sweet and tangy sauce with tomato, mustard and molasses flavors is the perfect complement to your grilled meats at a summer barbecue or picnic. Now go fire up that grill!