Cowboy BBQ Baked Beans
My cowboy BBQ baked beans are sweet, smoky, and so easy to make. They're easy to make, made with pantry staples and always the first dish to disappear at picnics.
We love to make these BBQ baked beans for picnics and potlucks. They are so flavorful and are mostly hands off. The oven does all the work while you work on other dishes or relax. They always come out thick and perfectly cooked. They go great with burgers, ribs, and burnt ends.
Why This Recipe Works: A Sprinkle of Food Science
- Use Bacon Fat: We cook our veggies in the rendered bacon fat you'll get smoky flavor in every bite.
- Unique Flavors: These are complex with tangy bbq sauce, smoky seasoning, and a pop of umami from the Worcestershire. When testing this recipe we found the smoked BBQ seasoning to add more flavor without tasting fake or overwhelming like liquid smoke can.
Ingredient Notes/Shopping Tips
- Chili Beans: Bush's is my favorite brand hands down. If you prefer a less spicy option you could use bacon beans or even drained and rinsed navy beans or kidney beans.
- Bell Peppers: I like red and yellow as they tend to be sweeter.
- Gold BBQ Sauce: I like the bold mustard flavor and vinegary tang this brings but you can leave it out if you don't have any on hand.
- BBQ Sauce: My go to brand is Stubbs. It is smoky, tangy, and not overly sweet.
- Smoked BBQ Seasoning: I used Kinder's woodfire blend which has adds a smoky flavor and a hint of garlic. You can substitue your favorite BBQ seasoning or rub.
- Bacon: I suggest using thick cut as it keeps its shape and texture and doesn't disappear when cooking.
- Salt & Pepper: Season at the end—sauces reduce and can concentrate salt.
Krystle's Tips: Steal My Culinary School Secrets
- Start bacon in a cold pan. This makes it easier to render the fat.
- Rest: Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before serving as they'll continue to thicken up a bit.
Yes! Follow my instructions for crock pot baked beans and Instant Pot baked beans.
To cook on the stove simmer on low for 45-60 minutes until thickened. Stir occasionally.
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📖 Recipe
Cowboy BBQ Baked Beans
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Ingredients
- 6 Slices Thick Cut Bacon Diced
- 1 Cup Onion Diced
- 1 30 Ounce Can Chili Beans
- 1 28 Ounce Can Pork and Beans
- 1 Bell Pepper Diced, I used a combination of red, orange, and yellow.
- 3 Tablespoons Gold BBQ sauce
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar Packed
- ½ Cup BBQ Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Smoked BBQ Seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet fry bacon until crispy. Set aside. Reserve 1 to tablespoons of drippings.
- Cook onion and peppers in reserved drippings.
- Drain beans and pour into bowl. Stir in onion, peppers, and bacon.
- In a small bowl combine brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ seasoning, golden BBQ sauce, and Chipotle BBQ Sauce. Stir well.
- Stir sauce into bean mixture and pour into baking dish.
- Bake for 90 minutes or until thickened. They should be bubbling and browning around the edges.
Just made these Cowboy BBQ Baked Beans — smoky, hearty, and full of flavor! 🤠🥄
these cowboy bbq baked beans are one of my family's favorite recipes.
these baked beans are amazing! such a tasty recipe.
These are amazing and were so easy to make! I'm not someone that usually likes beans but these were seasoned perfectly.
These were DELICIOUS!!! The bacon gave such marvelous flavor to this dish!