If you have ever tasted Smoked Baked Beans I am sure that you will agree with me that they are the best side dish served at any backyard barbecue. The sweet and smoky flavor of the beans makes for a great pairing with any smoked or grilled meats.
It is a classic menu item at nearly every barbecue restaurant. However, not all restaurants serve them smoked.
Instead, they may start with dried pinto beans and then cook them in a homemade sauce. Or they may add bits of bacon, hot dogs or even add shredded brisket to the mix to add another depth of flavor to the beans.
Although they are delicious in their own right, you are going to love this recipe even more. And best of all, you don’t have to use dried beans to make this recipe.
Instead, we are going to take a can of traditional baked beans and doctor them up to make the most incredible beans that you have ever tasted.
By putting them in the smoker to cook low and slow all the ingredients and flavors will have time to meld together perfectly. And with the infusion of smoke from the wood chips or pellets, your mouth will be bursting with flavor with just one bite.
The Secret Ingredient
So what make this recipe earn the title of the Best Smoked Baked Beans? Is it because the beans are cooked low and slow in a smoker until they are tender and flavorful?
Although the smoky flavor is definitely a bonus, there are other reasons that this will become your new favorite recipe. And it has to do with both the taste and the texture.
Like many backyard barbecue bean recipes, bits of real bacon are added to the mix. However, the bacon drippings are also used to saute the onions and peppers that get added as well.
Although instead of adding only sweet peppers to the mix, a serrano or jalapeno pepper is also used. The heat from the chili pepper will help balance out the sweetness of the sauce.
Then of course the traditional ingredients of brown sugar and ketchup are also used to thicken the mixture and add more flavor. However, there is one unexpected surprise ingredient that will take this recipe to the top.
And that secret ingredient is a can of pineapple tidbits! The sweetness from the pineapple is much different than the other ingredients and increases the flavor profile to the next level.
In addition the tidbits add a little texture and structure to the sauce. It may sound odd adding pineapple to baked beans, however pineapple pairs very well with both smoked and spicy foods.
Just like when I make my Sweet & Spicy Shrimp and Pineapple recipe the flavors compliment each other perfectly. And when the pineapple is added to the baked bean mixture, you have created something spectacular.
What To Serve With Smoked Baked Beans
So now that you know the secret ingredient for making the best smoked baked beans, it is time to think about when to make them. Although you could serve them as a side dish at just about any meal, there are certain foods that go very well with the smoky beans.
BBQ Ribs: You can never go wrong with serving tender and juicy Smoked Baby Back Ribs with the beans. It is a very common combination that is on the menu at most barbecue restaurants.
Grilled Chicken: The strong and smoky flavor of the beans compliments the milder taste of grilled chicken.
Pulled Pork: Another classic pairing with baked beans is pulled pork. Whether you make smoked pulled pork or make pulled pork in a crock pot, the richness of the pork is balanced out by the smoky flavor of the beans.
Burgers: Smoked baked beans can be a great side dish for burgers. Think about your Memorial Day and Labor Day picnics and Independence Day celebrations and you probably recall both burgers and beans being served.
Although protein is always good to serve with baked beans, there are some other delicious side dishes that you may not have considered.
Cornbread: Serve the beans with a side of cornbread for a classic southern meal.
Coleslaw: A side of coleslaw can be a refreshing complement to the smoky flavor of the baked beans.
Grilled Vegetables: For a healthier option, serve smoked baked beans with a side of grilled vegetables like zucchini or green beans. The smoky flavor of the beans will add a nice depth of flavor to the veggies.
How to Store and Reheat Baked Beans
To store smoked baked beans, let them cool down to room temperature and then transfer them to an air tight container. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat smoked baked beans, the best method is to heat them in the oven. However, there are other options as well.
Microwave: Transfer the desired amount of beans to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through.
Stovetop: Transfer the desired amount of beans to a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You may need to add chicken stock or water if the mixture is thick.
Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Transfer the desired amount of beans to an oven-safe dish and cover with foil. Bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through.
Smoked Baked Beans Recipe
*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.
INGREDIENTS
- 8 slices of bacon, cut into ½ inch sections
- ½ cup sweet onion, diced
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
- 1 serrano or jalapeno pepper, diced
- 55oz. can Bush’s Baked Beans
- 8 oz. can pineapple tidbits, drained but reserve the juice
- 1 c. light brown sugar
- 1 c. ketchup
- ½ tablespoon dry ground mustard
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the bacon pieces to a medium size skillet or large cast iron skillet. Cook the bacon over medium heat until the bacon is crispy.
Use a slotted spoon or spatula and remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate, keeping the bacon grease in the pan.
In the skillet with the bacon grease add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and serrano pepper. Saute for 3-4 minutes or until tender.
Transfer the contents from the skillet into a disposable foil pan. Or if you used a large cast iron skillet you can use that to smoke the baked beans.
Add the canned baked beans, pineapple chunks, ketchup, brown sugar, and dry mustard to the pan/skillet and stir. If the mixture is thick, thin it out to the desired consistency with the pineapple juice.
Sprinkle the top of the beans with the cooked bacon pieces. Place the beans in a preheated smoker set at 225°F and cook for 3 hours over indirect heat.
Preferred wood for smoking baked beans: apple, cherry, hickory and pecan.
Enjoy! Mary
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Smoked Baked Beans
How to make the best smoked baked beans that are full of fantastic flavor and texture.
Ingredients
- 8 slices of bacon, cut into ½ inch sections
- ½ cup sweet onion, diced
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
- 1 serrano or jalapeno pepper, diced
- 55oz. can Bush’s Baked Beans
- 8 oz. can pineapple tidbits, drained but reserve the juice
- 1 c. light brown sugar
- 1 c. ketchup
- ½ tablespoon dry ground mustard
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add the bacon pieces to a medium size skillet or large cast iron skillet. Cook the bacon over medium heat until the bacon is crispy. Use a slotted spoon or spatula and remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate, keeping the bacon grease in the pan.
- In the skillet with the bacon grease add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and serrano pepper. Saute for 3-4 minutes or until tender.
- Transfer the contents from the skillet into a disposable foil pan. Or if you used a large cast iron skillet you can use that to smoke the baked beans. Add the canned baked beans, pineapple chunks, ketchup, brown sugar, and dry mustard to the pan/skillet and stir.
- If the mixture is thick, thin it out to the desired consistency with the pineapple juice.
- Sprinkle the top of the beans with the cooked bacon pieces.
- Place the beans in a preheated smoker set at 225° for 3 hours over indirect heat.
Notes
Optional: Add 5 hot dogs that have been cut into 1 inch rounds and seared in a skillet to the baked bean mixture before the bacon is sprinkled on top. You can also add 1 cup of smoked brisket, sausage, or turkey to the beans as an alternative to the hot dogs.
Oven instructions: Bake in a preheated oven set at 350°F (177°C) for 1 hour.