June 15, 2023
Grilling

Smoked Baked Beans

Try the rich and smoky flavors of these irresistible Smoked Baked Beans. A hearty and comforting dish that combines the sweetness of maple syrup, the savory goodness of bacon, and the smoky essence from the grill. It’s a perfect side dish for any barbecue or gathering that will leave your guests begging for seconds!

Why This Recipe Works:

Must-Have Side Dish: Smoked baked beans take classic baked beans to a whole new level! These are a serious must-have side dish for all of summer’s BBQ get togethers. Featuring smoky bacon and a homemade sweet and savory sauce and cooked low and slow on the smoker, these baked beans are definitely a favorite side dish at my house!

Simple to Make: Once you make homemade smoked baked beans, you will never go back to buying canned baked beans. The sauce here is sweet, savory, smoky, and much better than the sauce from the canned beans! But it is also effortless to throw together. Once you combine the ingredients, just let the smoker do the hard work!

Smoked Baked Beans in a cast iron skillet with a gold spoon.

What Type Of Beans Are Used In Baked Beans?

Generally, baked beans are made with white beans. There are many varieties of white beans which include navy beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans, and Great Northern beans! White beans have a soft texture and soak up the flavors that they are cooked in, making them great for smoked baked beans!

Supplies Needed:

Mixing Bowls
Cast Iron Pan
Smoker

Ingredients:

Pinto Beans & Cannellini Beans: I like to use a combination of pinto and cannellini beans. Any type of white bean will work great!
Yellow Onion: Onion is an aromatic flavor-maker that will slightly caramelize after cooking in the smoker.
Bacon: Bacon adds that classic smoky flavor that is common in baked beans. However, if you want vegetarian baked beans, you can leave them out and add the smoky paprika to the sauce instead. Since we are smoking the beans, they will still get some of that smoky flavor!
Brown Sugar Bacon Seasoning: To add extra flavor to the bacon, season it with brown sugar, black pepper, and smoky paprika!
Sauce: The homemade sauce for these baked beans contains ketchup, maple syrup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, apple cider vinegar, cornstarch, salt pepper, and garlic powder. Sometimes I also like to add a little bourbon (optional). This sauce is the perfect mixture of sweet and savory and combines with the smoky bacon perfectly!

How To Make Smoked Baked Beans On The Grill:

Preheat the Smoker: Preheat the smoker to 300 F and set it for indirect heat.
Prep Beans: Rinse and drain all the beans and add them to the cast iron or an aluminum pan. Next, finely dice the white onion and mix it with the beans.
Make the Sauce: In a mixing bowl, add all the sauce ingredients together and whisk until it is fully combined and the cornstarch is fully mixed in with no lumps. Pour the sauce mixture over the beans and fold it all together. Spread everything out evenly across the pan so it is resting in an even layer.
Season the Bacon: Take the bacon seasoning mixture and toss it together in a bowl. Coat the top of all four strips of bacon with the seasoning mixture. Dice the bacon into small pieces and place them in an even layer across the top of the beans.
Place on Smoker: Place the entire pan of beans, uncovered, onto the smoker. Smoke on indirect heat for about 2 hours or until the beans are bubbly and the bacon is cooked and crispy.
Serve: Serve the smoked baked beans hot off the grill with your favorite BBQ and sides and enjoy!

Steps to make smoked baked beans in step by step photos.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use dried beans instead of canned beans?

While canned beans are more convenient to use, you can definitely use dried beans if you prefer. You will have to soak the beans overnight and cook them the next day. The good thing about dried beans is that the texture is really lovely and you can control the amount of salt that is in them!

Can I make vegetarian smoked baked beans?

Definitely! I love the flavor and texture of the bacon in this baked beans recipe, but you can omit the bacon if you prefer.

Can I make smoked baked beans ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the beans ahead of time and place them in the fridge until you are ready to smoke them and serve. Add an additional 30-45 minutes of cooking time if they are going directly from the refrigerator to the smoker.

Left photo is an overhead shot of smoked baked beans in the skillet and right photo is close up with a spoon in the beans.

Serving Suggestions:

Smoked baked beans are a classic side dish that pairs with so many smoked and grilled meats as well as fresh salads! Try having your baked beans with some of my favorites:

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