Best Potluck BBQ Baked Beans
These BBQ Baked Beans are sweet, smoky, and savory with a full pound of bacon, brown sugar, and a simple homemade sauce. Start with canned pork and beans, doctor them up, and bake until thick and bubbly. Perfect for barbecues, potlucks, and family dinners.
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 green pepper diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 60 ounces pork and beans 4 cans
- 1 cup ketchup
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon mustard
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven or smoker to 325°F.
- Chop bacon and fry in a large pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high by stirring with a wooden spoon until crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels using a slotted spoon, then remove all but about 1/4 cup of the bacon drippings.1 pound bacon
- Add the onion and green pepper to the pan with the bacon grease and sauté over medium heat until they have softened and begin to caramelize, around 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook and stir for another 30 seconds.1 yellow onion, 1 green pepper, 1 clove garlic
- Add beans, reserved bacon, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and black pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer, then transfer the pan to the oven or smoker if using a large, oven safe cast iron skillet, or pour the beans into a large 9x13-inch pan first before placing in the oven or smoker.60 ounces pork and beans, 1 cup ketchup, ⅔ cup brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tablespoon mustard, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Bake for 1-2 hours until the beans are hot and bubbly and have achieved the thickness you desire. Keep in mind that the beans will continue to thicken slightly as they cool.
Notes
- Fry bacon extra crispy and use ¼ cup drippings to sauté veggies for best flavor.
- Bake 1-2 hours at 325°F until bubbly and thickened to your liking.
- Taste before baking; flavors concentrate as they cook.
- Make ahead: assemble up to 24 hours early, refrigerate, bake fresh.
- Smoker option: use mild wood (hickory/apple) for extra smokiness.
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Cool completely, portion, freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge.
- Reheat: Warm on stovetop with splash of water or microwave, stirring until hot.
Nutrition
Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 1261mg | Potassium: 766mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 187IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 3mg
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