BBQ Baked Beans

Smoky, sweet, and deeply savory, these BBQ baked beans simmer bacon, onion, and a molasses-mustard sauce with navy beans until thick and glossy. They're the essential low-and-slow companion to anything off the smoker, soaking up flavor as they bake alongside your brisket or ribs.

By YumYum Editorial · BBQ & Grilling

Prep: 15 min · Cook: 2 min · Total: 17 min · Serves 8

Ingredients

• 6 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 (15 oz) cans navy beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup water or chicken stock, as needed

Instructions

1. Preheat oven or grill to 300°F for indirect low heat, or set up your smoker at the same temperature if cooking alongside other barbecue.
2. In a large Dutch oven or cast iron pot over medium heat, cook the diced bacon until crisp and the fat has rendered, about 6-8 minutes.
3. Add the onion and green pepper to the bacon fat and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.
4. Add the beans, ketchup, barbecue sauce, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
5. Add water or stock until the mixture is loose and saucy — it will thicken significantly as it bakes.
6. Cover the pot and place in the oven or on the indirect side of the grill/smoker for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
7. Remove the lid for the final 30 minutes to let the sauce reduce and thicken, and to pick up extra smoky flavor if on the smoker.
8. Taste and adjust with more barbecue sauce, vinegar, or brown sugar as needed before serving hot.