Description
BBQ Bacon Baked Beans are a smoky, savory side dish combining tender Great Northern beans with crispy bacon and a rich, tangy sauce blend. Perfect for barbecue gatherings or family meals, this recipe balances sweetness, smokiness, and hearty flavors to elevate your grilled favorites with ease.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Beans
- 6–8 thick-cut bacon strips
- 3 cups cooked or canned Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Sauces & Condiments
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (sweet, spicy, or tangy, per preference)
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Sweeteners & Spices
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until crispy: Fry the bacon strips in a large skillet over medium heat until golden and crispy. Remove the bacon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pan.
- Sauté onions and garlic: In the bacon fat, cook the diced onion until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Combine ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine chopped cooked bacon, sautéed onions and garlic, drained beans, BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until fully incorporated.
- Bake the beans: Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and thickening of the sauce.
- Let it rest and serve: Remove the beans from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving to allow the flavors to set perfectly.
Notes
- Use quality thick-cut bacon for better texture and flavor.
- Don’t skip sautéing onions and garlic in bacon fat to deepen flavor.
- Drain and rinse beans well to avoid a soupy final dish.
- Stir beans halfway through baking for even cooking and flavor.
- Adjust baking time if you prefer a thicker texture but watch to prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American BBQ
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg