Description
Delicious BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon, a smoky, sweet, and savory side dish perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or a hearty family meal. This recipe combines crispy bacon, tender baked beans, and a flavorful blend of spices and sauces, baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 slices bacon, diced
- 1 small sweet onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 (22 ounce) cans baked beans (preferably Bush’s Grillin’ Beans)
- 2 slices bacon, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F to prepare for baking the beans later.
- Cook Bacon: Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the diced bacon. Cook until brown and crisp, allowing most of the fat to render out, creating a flavorful base for the dish.
- Sauté Vegetables: Stir in the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic with the bacon. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes, enhancing their sweetness and flavor.
- Add Spices: Mix in smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook this spice blend for 1 to 2 minutes to bloom the flavors.
- Incorporate Sauces and Sugar: Stir in apple cider vinegar, BBQ sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, and brown sugar until the mixture is well combined, balancing smoky, tangy, and sweet notes.
- Add Baked Beans: Pour in the baked beans directly from the can and stir to incorporate. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil to meld flavors, then turn off the heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Optionally, lay a few strips of bacon on top for extra smokiness.
- Bake the Beans: Place the skillet in the preheated oven (or transfer the mixture to an oven-safe dish) and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the beans are bubbly and syrupy, concentrating the flavors and caramelizing the sauce slightly.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the beans cool slightly before serving to allow the sauce to thicken and flavors to settle.
- Make Ahead & Storage: These baked beans can be cooked ahead, cooled to room temperature, covered, and refrigerated. Re-bake when ready to serve. They also freeze well for convenient future meals.
Notes
- Use an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring the beans after cooking on the stovetop.
- Adjust the chipotle chili powder to control the heat level according to your preference.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use vegetarian smoked paprika or smoked salt for a smoky flavor.
- Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave.
- These baked beans pair excellently with grilled meats, burgers, or as a hearty side for any barbecue.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
