Smoked Baked Beans Recipe

smoked beans in bbq sauce in a skillet with a wooden spoon

5 from 1 vote

My smoked baked beans recipe features three types of canned beans, flavorful homemade BBQ sauce, sauteed bacon, and a medley of sauteed vegetables.

Prep Time15

Cook Time3

Total Time3 15

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: beans

Servings:

Calories: 509kcal

Author: Lyuba

Ingredients

Bean Mixture

1 tbsp canola oil
1/2 lb uncooked bacon
1 red onion
2 medium red bell peppers
2 jalapeno peppers
16 oz pinto beans drained
16 oz black beans drained
16 oz navy beans

BBQ Sauce:

1 cup ketchup
1 cup chicken stock
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp bourbon whiskey
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prepare Ingredients:

Pour the beans into a fine mash strainer and let them drain off while preparing bacon and vegetables.
Dice cold bacon and vegetables into small pieces. (It's easier to dice raw bacon when it's cold.)

Prepare the beans:

Preheat a cast iron skillet (or another pan that can go from stove-top to the smoker) over medium-high heat.
Add canola oil and bacon and sauté it until most of the fat is rendered.
Add diced onion, bell peppers, and jalapenos and cook until completely done. Don't' stir it too often to give the bottom a chance to get browned. That's where the flavor is!
Once vegetables are done, add drained beans and mix well.
Whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce and pour it into the skillet with the beans. Mix well.

Prepare the smoker:

Set up your smoker and get it to a steady 225°F. Place a water pan either on the grate below or next to it, depending on your smoker and your smoker set-up. If you’re using a charcoal or wood smoker, maintain the temperature no lower than 225°F and no higher than 240°F.

Smoke the beans:

Place the skillet with the beans onto the smoker and let it cook for 2-3 hours.
Stir the beans once smoked and serve.

Notes

Storing: store leftover smoked beans in an air-tight food storage container, in the refrigerator. Properly stored, it will be good for 4-5 days.

Freezing: while you can definitely freeze these beans, there may be a slight texture difference once thawed. Make sure to cool beans to room temperature before freezing. Portion into one or several freezer-friendly zip-top bags, get all the air out and seal. Lay the bags on the cutting board and freeze. Once frozen, you can easily stack the bags.

Thawing: Make sure to slow-thaw in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.

Reheating: you can easily reheat individual portions in the microwave or heated larger amount in a sauce pot on stove top.

Nutrition