Smoked BBQ Baked Beans Recipe

4.50 from 16 votes

Easy barbecued baked beans that are comforting, slightly sweet, mildly smoky, rich, meaty, and totally indulgent.

Prep Time20

Cook Time1

Total Time1 20

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: barbecue, bbq, side dish, Smoked Food

Servings: servings

Cost: $25.00

4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
1 large red onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup beer, amber or pale ale
1 cup tomato sauce
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
¼ cup molasses
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon coarse black pepper
3 15-oz cans beans, drained and rinsed (a combination of pinto, white, kidney, or black beans)
1 cup water as needed (or a combination of other liquids, including coffee, see notes)

Pre-heat Smoker: to 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cook Bacon: In a large cast iron skillet, sauté the bacon over medium heat for about 5 minutes, to render the fat and crisp up the bacon. Remove the bacon (set aside for later) and discard most of the fat (saving about 2 tablespoons for the next step).
Soften Vegetables: Add the onions and sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes, add garlic and sauté another 2 minutes or until onion and garlic are soft, but not caramelized.
Remaining Ingredients: Add the beer and cook down for 1 minute. Add the tomato sauce, balsamic, molasses, brown sugar, Dijon, salt, pepper, beans, and the cooked bacon. Mix to combine.
If adding pulled pork or brisket, do it now and mix to combine.
Smoke Beans: Transfer pot onto the smoker, uncovered, and cook for 60 minutes until they are thick, rich, and well combined. Stirring occasionally. Serve warm.
If they start to look a little dried out, add some water or other liquids (like coffee), in small increments (about ½ cup at a time).

Add smoked meat. If you have any leftover brisket or pulled pork lying around (don't judge!), then heat up some brisket in place of the bacon (or in addition to bacon). These BBQ beans are so stinkin’ good with brisket! You can also use leftover pulled pork.

Make them vegetarian by leaving out the meat. We always cook a vegetarian batch when we serve these beans at catering events, like the batch below.

Change up the beans. You can even just do one type of bean if that’s all you have.

Want them a little sweeter? Add more brown sugar or a couple tablespoons of maple syrup.

Want some kick? Add a few dashes of hot sauce or red pepper flakes. You can even add in a couple tablespoons of your favorite BBQ sauce to jazz the baked beans up. It’s up to you.