Dad’s Famous BBQ Baked Beans

Friends and family have been raving about my Dad’s famous homemade baked beans for decades! Now I’m sharing the simple recipe featuring bacon, brown sugar and his secret ingredient!

These Southern BBQ Baked Beans are easy to make in the oven, in a crock pot or on a smoker. They’re the perfect side dish to go with Oklahoma Onion Fried Burgers or Melt-In-Your-Mouth Smoked Brisket!

If you’ve ever been to a BBQ at my parents house in Oklahoma, or my house in San Diego, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ve tried my Dad’s Famous Baked Beans. After dozens of requests for the recipe, I decided it was time I finally shared his recipe on the blog!

It’s simple. Nothing fancy here. Just good ol’ southern bbq baked beans!

His secret ingredient? Ground mustard! When cooked in the sauce of the baked beans it adds a delicious flavor to the dish.

This no-fuss recipe can be baked in the oven, cooked in a slow cooker or smoked on a smoker. Whatever is easiest for you, do that! If I’m making the beans to pair with a dinner like my Dad’s Famous Captain Crunch Fried Chicken, I cook them in the oven.

When I’m hosting a party or BBQ, I toss them in the crock pot so that people can eat them throughout the party. If I’m outside smoking meats, I cook them in a cast iron dutch oven right on the smoker next to my meat.

This baked beans recipe serves 4-6 people but is easy to double or triple for a bigger group. I highly recommend making more than you think you’ll need, because I’m telling you right now, people go crazy for these baked beans!

Ingredients

For the full recipe list and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Canned pork and beans (in tomato sauce) – we’ve always used Van Camp’s brand to make this recipe at home. If you can get your hand on these, this is what I recommend for this recipe. If you can’t find VanCamp’s, feel free to use another brand of Pork and Beans. You will use the entire contents of the can to make this recipe, including the tomato sauce, so you won’t want to drain or rinse the beans.
• Bacon – our family likes to leave the bacon slice whole and remove it after baking, before serving. You can also dice the slice of bacon before adding it to the beans and serve the beans with the bacon cooked in it.
• Brown sugar – to sweeten the beans and make them true southern-style baked beans!
• BBQ sauce – I like to use a basic bbq sauce that’s not flavored, but feel free to use your favorite brand and style of sauce. Just note that if you use a spicy bbq sauce, it will obviously add spice to the beans, and if you were to use honey, garlic, or bourbon bbq sauce, these flavors will be added to the beans.
• Onion – I recommend a sweet vidalia onion for this recipe, but any yellow or white onion will work.
• Ground mustard – you may also see ground mustard labeled as dry mustard or mustard powder at the grocery store. They’re all the same and can be used interchangeably.
• Salt + black pepper – to season the beans.

Step by step instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Add two cans of pork and beans to a large oven safe baking dish or casserole dish.
3. Add a slice of uncooked bacon, brown sugar, bbq sauce, and diced onion.
4. Season the beans with ground mustard, black pepper and kosher salt.
5. Stir all of the ingredients together.
6. Place in the oven to bake for 90 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven and serve with a slotted spoon.

How to make them in a Crock Pot

To make the recipe in a slow cooker, simply combine all of the ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Switch the crock pot over to the warm function after 6 hours. The beans can stay in the crock pot on warm for up to 4 hours.

This is a great way to keep the beans warm throughout a party or BBQ. I always use this method for my annual 4th of July party!  This is also a great way to transport the beans to a potluck and keep them warm for hours!

How to make them on a smoker

Combine all of the ingredients in a pot that’s safe to use on a smoker. I use a cast iron dutch oven. If smoking meats, the temperature of the smoker should be at 225°F. At this temperature, the beans should be on the smoker for approximately 2-3 hours.

What goes with baked beans?

Southern BBQ baked beans are perfect served with slow cooked, grilled or smoked meats. Try it as a side with these delicious main dishes!

• Slow Cooker Peach BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Coffee Rubbed BBQ Steak Sandwich
• Grilled Peach Balsamic BBQ Chicken
• Slow Cooker Chipotle Apple BBQ Brisket Sandwiches
• Smoked Turkey Breast
• Grilled Tri Tip

How long will they last in the fridge?

Any leftover cooked baked beans should be stored in the refrigerator and will last 5-6 days. You can reheat them on the stove over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or in the microwave for 60-90 seconds.

You can also prepare the beans ahead of time. The uncooked beans will stay good in the fridge for up to two days before cooking them.

More delicious side dishes

Try these other tasty sides that compliment the best baked beans perfectly!

• Bacon Tomato Avocado Pasta Salad – double up on the bacon by serving the beans right alongside THE BEST pasta salad ever!
• BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese – I like to leave the chicken out of this main dish and serve it as a side. Pair it with the beans and these two bbq dishes are a match made in foodie heaven!
• Cast Iron Skillet Rustic Potatoes – these potatoes can be baked in the oven or on the grill, right alongside the beans!
• Roasted Poblano Corn Salsa – Grilled Corn + Baked Beans = the perfect bbq side dishes!
• Watermelon Salad – nothing quite says “Summer BBQ” like a refreshing watermelon salad!

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