Smoked Baked Beans + Video

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Smoked Baked Beans with bacon is the perfect side dish for weeknight meals, potlucks, or backyard barbecues. Make this smoked beans recipe using any smoker!

Smoked baked beans in a cast iron pan


 

Smoked Baked Beans

These smoker baked beans are one of our favorite summer sides. But, summer parties are the perfect time to bring along a variety of dishes.

Corn and Black Bean Tortellini Salad is a simple recipe that kicks up the traditional salsa to a whole new level.

Or, you might want to try these Italian Style Crockpot Beans. The flavor is absolutely incredible.

Have you had a chance to try any of my other smoker recipes?

These smoked chicken quarters are juicy and tender on the inside with crispy skin on the outside, and you can never go wrong with plump smoked brats!

ingredients for smoked baked beans

How to Make Smoked Baked Beans from Scratch

After preheating your smoker and choosing your favorite wood, you simply combine the ingredients in a pan.

I prefer to use a cast iron pan for smoked baked beans, but you can also use a Dutch Oven if you want to.

Or, if you are cooking for a crowd, you can use a disposable aluminum pan!

Place your pan in the smoker and cook for about three hours. Stir every hour and cook until the sauce has thickened and the beans are tender.

stirring smoked beans ingredients in cast iron pan

Don’t have a smoker?

You can prepare this smoked baked beans recipe in the slow cooker instead. Cook everything on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.

Or, pop the pan into the oven and bake at 400°F for 55-60 minutes, until the sauce thickens.

Either version will be missing that incredibly smoky flavor, but a splash of Liquid Smoke will remedy that! 

Smoked Beans Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Start with cooked bacon. Lay slices of bacon on a foil-lined baking pan. Place the pan in the cold oven, turn the heat to 400°F, and bake for 8-10 minutes. 

    Or, you can air fry the strips instead!
  • Use canned beans. This trick will save you the trouble of soaking dry beans overnight!
  • Add extra flavor. Garlic and red onion will make this dish extra savory.

    If you prefer smoked baked beans that are a bit sweeter, try some maple syrup or pineapple juice.
placing cast iron pan of beans in smoker

Storing and Reheating Leftover Smoker Baked Beans

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 5 to 7 days.

You can also freeze smoker baked beans. Allow them to cool to room temperature, then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Reheat smoked baked beans in a pan on the stove until they are warmed through. Or, warm them in the microwave.

smoking baked beans in cast iron pan

Smoked Baked Beans Recipe FAQ

What beans are used in baked beans?

Baked beans are usually made from haricot beans. Another name for haricot beans is navy beans. You can find them either dried or in a can at the grocery store.

How long does it take to smoke beans?

This smoked baked beans recipe takes about three hours to make in your smoker. You will need to check it every hour.

The exact time you need really depends on the type of smoker you have. The baked beans are done when the sauce has thickened and the beans are heated all the way through.

Can I use homemade baked beans?

This smoked beans recipe starts with two cans of already prepared baked beans.

If you would prefer to make smoked baked beans from scratch, you can do that as well. Just be careful what seasonings you use so that they do not overwhelm the smoke flavor.

Other baked bean recipes to make

Have you had a chance to try my other baked bean recipes?

These BBQ Baked Beans are a family favorite, with a recipe so easy it comes together in less than minutes.

Or, my Slow Cooker Baked Beans are an easy recipe with bold flavors. I cook them for hours in molasses, brown sugar, veggies, smoky spices, and bacon.

stirring smoker baked beans in cast iron pan

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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overhead: stirring smoked baked beans with bacon
pot of smoked baked beans with serving spoon

Smoked Baked Beans

Donna Elick
Smoked Baked Beans is the perfect side dish for weeknight meals or backyard barbecues. Make this smoked beans recipe using any smoker!
5 stars from 2 reviews
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Method Smoker
Servings 8

Ingredients
 

  • 56 ounces Bush's baked beans , 2 28-ounce cans (or 4 (15.5-ounce) cans)
  • 28 ounces kidney beans, 2 14-ounce cans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce, I used KC Masterpiece
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 7 ounce can fire-roasted diced chiles, (I used Macayo’s)
  • 1 cup A&W root beer
  • 1 pound regular cut bacon, cooked and chopped (1/2-3/4” pieces)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your smoker to 225°F. Choose your favorite wood, I am using my favorite blend of oak, maple and hickory on my pellet smoker.
  • Combine the ingredients in a cast iron pan or aluminum pan (I used a 9×12-half steam table pan) , whatever you prefer to cook on your smoker with.
  • Place your pan on your smoker. Keep in mind the closer to the heat source, the faster they will cook. I like to keep my beans closer to the heat source when possible.
  • Smoke for 3 hours, gently stirring every hour, or until the sauce has thickened and the beans are heated through. If the sauce gets too thick, you can stir in some more root beer to thin it out.

Video

Donna’s Notes

I prefer my bacon to be cooked but not crispy. To bake bacon: lay slices of bacon on a foil-lined baking pan. Place the pan in the cold oven, turn the heat to 400°F and bake for 8-10 minutes. The length of time will vary based on the thickness of your bacon (thick-cut takes longer). Chop up the cooked bacon and refrigerate until ready to use.
This recipe can be prepared in a slow cooker but will not have that smoked flavor, HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
You can bake this recipe in the oven but it will not have that smoked flavor, 400°F for 55-60 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
To freeze, let beans come to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container. Will keep for 2-3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 678cal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 1671mg | Sugar: 22g | Fiber: 19g | Calcium: 164mg | Iron: 7mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled image (and shown): smoked baked beans

Originally published August 2020, updated and republished May 2023

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