BBQ Baked Beans
These BBQ Baked Beans are a hearty, smoky, and sweet side dish that starts with canned baked beans and gets a flavorful boost from crispy bacon, sautéed onions, BBQ sauce, and brown sugar. Ideal for cookouts, potlucks, and backyard barbecues, this crowd-pleasing classic is baked to perfection for maximum flavor.
Servings: 8
Calories: 341kcal
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon chopped small
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 28 oz cans original baked beans (do not drain)
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
- In the same skillet, sauté the diced onion in the remaining bacon fat until softened and translucent. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. (If omitting bacon, use 1 tablespoon oil to sauté the onions.)
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the baked beans, cooked bacon, sautéed onions, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Stir until well mixed.
- Pour the bean mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake uncovered for 1 hour, stirring once halfway through for even cooking.
- Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
For easier cleanup and less grease, try using pre-cooked microwave bacon or oven-baked bacon.
Cook bacon until crispy to prevent sogginess in the beans.
Use flavored baked beans like brown sugar, spicy, or mesquite for added variety.
Center-cut bacon has less fat and stays crispier when baked into the dish.