BBQ Baked Beans

Drenched in sweet and tangy bbq flavors, this BBQ Baked Beans recipe is loaded with ground beef, bacon, and onions, baked low and slow in the oven until every bean is soaked in the delicious juices of the meats and the bbq sauce and seasonings.

Our BBQ baked beans is made with ground beef, making it a hearty, flavorful barbecue and cookout side dish to accompany your burgers, hot dogs, and bbq meats. It’s seriously the most flavorful beans ever!

Looking for more summer cookout side dishes? Check out my Light Raisin Coleslaw, Corn and Tomato Salad, Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad, Bruschetta Pasta Salad, and Grilled Fingerling Potatoes.

why i love this bBQ Baked beans recipe

BBQ baked beans are a staple side dish at cookouts, pairing beautifully with hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, ribs, brisket, or just about anything cooked on the grill!

What I love about this bbq beans is that every bean gets soaked in the amazing flavor of bbq sauce and the juices from the ground beef and bacon.

We start this barbecue beans recipe with canned baked beans and dress it up to add depth and dimension to its flavor profile.

I really like making baked beans with ground beef because it adds a meatier, heartier dimension to the side, bringing some yummy texture in every bite. Those same juices get absorbed into the sauce too, making the beans even more tasty.

And of course, we can’t forget the bacon! Bacon (and the bacon grease) brings a ton of flavor, and we top the beans with the crispy pieces at the end for a nice crunch.

This barbecue baked beans recipe is on the stovetop, then transferred to a large 9′ x 13′ rectangular casserole dish to be baked in the oven. It serves a lot of people, making it perfect for big gatherings and cookouts all summer long.

It takes about 50-60 minutes total, but most of that time the beans are in the oven cooking low and slow so the flavors really come through. In other words, a lot of hands-off time.

Ingredients for the best BBQ Baked Beans

I mentioned how much I love this bbq baked beans recipe, but let’s talk about what actually goes into it. These are all easy-to-find, pantry-friendly ingredients:

• Original baked beans: Canned baked beans form the base of this recipe – Bush’s Original Baked Beans is my go-to.
• Lean ground beef: I like at least 90% lean so the dish doesn’t turn greasy.
• Bacon: Cut into pieces and pan fried until crisp – the reserved bacon grease is where a lot of the flavor comes from.
• BBQ sauce: Use your favorite sweet, smoky, or spicy variety. A sweeter sauce is used here, so adjust the brown sugar if using a less sweet one.
• Garlic cloves: Minced fresh garlic, though garlic powder works in a pinch.
• Small white onion: Diced. Any onion works, just use half if you’re using a larger one.
• Ketchup: Adds tang and helps thicken the sauce.
• Brown sugar: Balances the tanginess with a touch of sweetness.
• Dijon mustard: Adds a subtle tangy sharpness that cuts through the sweetness of the bbq sauce and brown sugar. Yellow mustard is a fine substitute if that’s what you have on hand.

How to make the best BBQ Baked Beans

And now, let me show you how I make this bbq baked beans recipe!

This bbq beans recipe is first made on a large skillet or saucepan on the stovetop, and then transferred to a 9′ x 13′ rectangular casserole dish to be baked in the oven.

Make sure you’re using an extra-large skillet that will fit all of the beans, ground beef, and bacon. A large saucepan works too, and preheat your oven to 350°F before you get started.

Step 1: Cook The Bacon

Slice the bacon into 1 1/2-inch pieces. In the skillet, pan fry the bacon until fully cooked.

Remove the bacon pieces and set them aside. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease in the skillet and discard the rest.

Step 2: Add The Onions And Garlic

Using the same skillet, add onions and garlic. Pan fry until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant, avoiding browning or burning them.

Step 3: Brown The Ground Beef

Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break it into small pieces and pan fry until it’s no longer pink.

Step 4: Add The Sauces

Add the bbq sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and dijon mustard to the ground beef. Stir to combine.

This lets the ground beef soak up all that flavor before the beans go in.

Step 5: Add The Baked Beans And Simmer

Add the baked beans. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning the bottom of the skillet.

Step 6: Transfer And Bake

Remove the beans from the heat and transfer them to a 9′ x 13′ rectangular casserole dish that’s at least 2 inches deep.

Top the beans with the bacon pieces you set aside earlier.

Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Cooking it low and slow like this lets the beans fully absorb all that flavor.

Remove from the oven and let the beans rest for a few minutes so they cool and set. Serve and enjoy!

Crockpot Instructions

To make barbecue baked beans in the slow cooker, follow the stovetop direction up until cooking ground beef with ketchup, bbq sauce, mustard and brown sugar, then add beef mixture and canned baked beans into the slow cooker and cook it on low for 2 hours.

When it is done, sprinkle bacon pieces on top before serving.

Variations and Substitutions

Here are a few easy ways to switch up this bbq baked beans recipe:

• Ground turkey, chicken, pork or sausage: Swap either in for the ground beef for a leaner or spicier twist.
• Bell pepper: Diced green or red bell pepper adds nice crunch and color.
• Smoked paprika or liquid smoke: A little goes a long way toward a deeper, smokier barbecue flavor.
• Apple cider vinegar: A splash adds tang and helps cut through the sweetness.
• Spicy kick: Red pepper flakes or diced jalapeño for some heat.
• Different bbq sauce styles: Try a spicy, smoky, or honey bbq sauce for a completely different flavor profile.
• Vegetarian: Leave out the ground beef and bacon, and use a plant-based bacon alternative or extra veggies to keep some texture. You’ll want to compensate with a little liquid smoke or smoked paprika for depth.
• Dry beans: Prefer to start from dry beans instead of canned? See the FAQ below for how to adjust the recipe.

Make Ahead, Storage, and Reheating

Make ahead: Cook the bacon, ground beef, and beans on the stovetop up to a day ahead, then store covered in the casserole dish. When ready to serve, top with the reserved bacon and bake as directed.

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Freeze cooled bbq baked beans in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating: Warm leftovers in the oven at 350°F until heated through, or microwave in short bursts, stirring in between.

How to serve bBQ baked beans

Bbq baked beans is the ultimate cookout side dish, and there’s nothing I love more than a full blown cookout spread!

Here are some main dish and side dish ideas that will go perfectly with these baked beans when cooking out or grilling.

Main dishes:

• Homemade Burger
• Cheese Stuffed Burger
• Lemon Balsamic Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Steak Tacos
• Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Other cookout sides:

• Watermelon Strawberry Salad
• Strawberry Bacon Spinach Salad
• Loaded Baked Potato Salad
• Skillet Corn with Bacon
• Pineapple Mango Salsa
• Chipotle Corn Salsa

Tips and Tricks

• Save the bacon grease: That reserved tablespoon is where a lot of the flavor in this recipe comes from – don’t skip it.
• Don’t brown the onions and garlic: Keep the heat moderate so they turn soft and fragrant without browning or burning.
• Keep a lid nearby: A lid on the skillet while things simmer helps cut down on splatter.
• Loosen it up if needed: If the mixture looks too thick before baking, stir in a splash of water or broth.
• Smokier flavor: A little smoked paprika or liquid smoke deepens the barbecue flavor if your bbq sauce is on the milder side.
• Match your bbq sauce to your taste: Sweeter sauces lean into the classic flavor here; smokier or spicier sauces give the dish a different personality entirely.
• Let it rest before serving: A few minutes off the heat helps the beans set up and thicken.
• Make it the day before: The flavors deepen overnight in the fridge, so this is a great make-ahead dish for a cookout.

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More Delicious Side Dish Recipes

• Avocado Corn and Black Bean Salsa
• Garlic Edamame
• Caramelized Onions Sautéed Green Beans
• Crispy Baked Potato Skins
• Skillet Corn With Bacon
• Muffuletta Pasta Salad