Crockpot Baked Beans

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Crockpot Baked Beans are the answer to boring canned beans with the addition of my yummy add-ins. Simple and easy, this recipe transforms canned baked beans into a sweet and savory, silky pot of baked beans. I add sautéed onions and garlic, bacon, and a variety of spices, resulting in a more flavorful and juicy dish.

This pot of beans will go perfectly with hot dogs and hamburgers on summer days.  Whether it’s a backyard gathering or a picnic in the park, your family will be happy you took the average canned pork and beans to the next level with “Wow, what did you do to the baked beans? They are so good!” It takes minutes to assemble, then let your slow cooker do the rest.

Looking for a different baked bean recipe? I hope you’ll check out our calico beans, amazing BBQ baked beans, cowboy beans, and charro beans next.

CROCKPOT BAKED BEANS INGREDIENTS

• Bacon: Smoky bacon adds a lot of flavor, and the bits of bacon are particularly nice. Sadly, I forgot to add it to my beauty shots! Well, you can tell this is human content and not AI!
• Yellow onion: When cooked, onions mellow and become sweet but still savory.
• Cloves fresh garlic: Minced fresh garlic is a must and is a nice aromatic, yet mellows in flavor once cooked.
• Pork and beans: This forms the base of the beans, and then we fancy them up!
• BBQ sauce: More tangy BBQ sauce to add more flavor and depth. Buy your favorite bottle. Many recipes call for ketchup, but I prefer the added flavor that BBQ sauce brings to these beans.
• Molasses: A must for baked beans. Molasses gives food a deep, earthy, sweet taste.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar is white sugar mixed with molasses. I add this to more earthy sweetness. I like to use dark brown sugar because it a stronger, more pronounced caramel and toffee flavor. If you prefer, light brown sugar works, also.
• Creole or Dijon mustard: Mustard takes all that sweetness and balances it with savory. Mustard is essential when making baked beans.
• Worcestershire: Lastly, this wonderful sauce adds more umami flavor, deepening the baked beans and adding another level of complexity.

TIPS

• To Drain Or Not To Drain: I add the beans with all the liquid from the can as well. When they’re done cooking, the beans in the sauce will look slightly thin. The sauce becomes almost instantly thick and glorious when they’re removed from the heat and plated in a serving bowl, and allowed to set for 5-10 minutes.
• Where’s The Salt? Since we’re using canned beans, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to add salt. After the beans are cooked, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you do indeed add salt or other seasonings, leave the heat on the crockpot for about 10 minutes so the seasoning will melt into the beans.
• Customizable Sweetness: If you find the beans too sweet, reduce the amount of brown sugar or use a less sweet BBQ sauce. You can balance sweetness with a touch of vinegar or mustard.
• Add More Meat! If you like your beans meaty, brown a pound of ground beef (I use 80/20 for best flavor) or the same amount of country pork sausage. I prefer to buy my ground sausage in bulk. “Bulk” refers to sausage that is sold or prepared in loose form, without being stuffed into casings. If you can’t find it in bulk, I like Jimmy Dean’s Premium Pork Sausage Roll. It comes wrapped in plastic and does not have a casing.
• Beans: I love the ease and convenience of using pork and beans. That said, variety is a beautiful thing. Feel free to use a combo of pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, great northern beans, black beans, or everyone’s favorite, Ranch Beans!
• Add a Sweet and Tangy Element: A splash of apple cider vinegar or a bit of hot sauce can balance the sweetness of the molasses and BBQ sauce.
• Make Them With Some Fruit: Consider adding diced apples or pineapple for a unique, sweet, and tart flavor.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Will the Beans Break Down in the Crockpot? If you cook them for the amount of time suggested on the recipe card below, it won’t be an issue. Check out the photos, you can see the beans are well-shaped after the cooking time.
• Make ‘Em Smokier: The barbecue sauce, bacon, and canned pork and beans will add a good amount of smoke. If you still want them smokier, liquid smoke is a great solution. Have you used it before? It sounds somewhat unusual, but it’s naturally produced from condensed smoke generated by burning wood. The wood is set on fire in a controlled environment to produce smoke. This is often done in a chamber designed to capture the smoke efficiently. The smoke is then cooled and condensed into a liquid form. Nothing weird or chemical!
• How Can I Make Them Spicy? If you like spice, try using a spicy BBQ sauce, or add hot sauce, chipotle in adobo, or sautéed jalapenos to add heat to your baked beans.
• How Do I Reheat These Beans? There are a few ways to do so. I like to place them in a microwave-safe dish, place a damp towel over them, and heat them. You can alternatively place them back in the crockpot and heat on high. You can also heat them up on the stovetop. You may need to add a bit of extra liquid, like broth or water if the beans are too thick. Exact reheating times will vary depending on the amount you reheat, the method you use, and whether the beans are straight from the fridge or have been left on the counter to come to room temperature a bit. If you leave them out on the counter, remember the FDA’s 2-hour rule recommendation to protect them from bacteria.

STORING + FREEZING + MAKE-AHEAD

• How Long Can You Keep This in The Refrigerator? Once made, your Crock pot Baked Beans will last up to four days in the fridge. Store in an airtight container.
• Can You Freeze This? Cool completely, then place in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag, label it, and store in the freezer. The baked beans will be good for up to three months.  Thaw and heat on low in your crockpot.
• Make-Ahead: This dish can be prepared in advance. Just keep it warm in the crockpot until ready to serve if made the same day.  If made earlier, warm it up on low in the crockpot an hour ahead of time.
• Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety, check out this link.

HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT BAKED BEANS RECIPE

1. Cook the bacon until crispy. Set aside.
2. Cook the onion until translucent. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
3. In a crockpot, add the beans.
4. Add the cooked onion and garlic, BBQ sauce, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar. Stir and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. Sprinkle bacon over baked beans.
6. Serve.

***See the full instructions below.

HOW TO MAKE THESE BEANS IN THE OVEN

1.  Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2.  In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; set aside. Remove and discard all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat.
3.  Using the same skillet, add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant.
4.  In a large mixing bowl or directly in a big oven-safe baking dish, combine the sautéed onions and garlic with the cooked bacon, pork and beans, BBQ sauce, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
5. If you haven’t mixed the ingredients in a baking dish, transfer the mixture to a large oven-safe casserole or baking dish.
6. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent drying out. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-30 minutes, or until the beans are bubbly and have reached your desired thickness.
7. Once done, remove from the oven, sprinkle cooked bacon over the top, and let it cool for a few minutes before serving

MAINS FEATURING BEANS 

• Pinto Bean Soup
• Swamp Soup
• Italian Sausage Soup
• Black Eyed Pea Soup
• 15 Bean Soup
• Cowboy Stew
• Brunswick Stew
• Cowboy Spaghetti
• Cowboy Casserole
• Ham And Beans Soup
• Mexican Chicken Soup 

MORE DELICIOUS SIDE DISH RECIPES

• Green Beans With Bacon
• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Crockpot Creamed Corn
• Southern Collar Greens
• Southern Style Green Beans

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Crockpot Baked Beans

Enjoy delicious and easy Crockpot Baked Beans made with crispy bacon, hearty pork and beans, + a blend of flavorful ingredients.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time4 hours hrs

Total Time4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Kathleen

Ingredients

• ▢ 10 ounces bacon, cut into 1/4 inch strips
• ▢ 2 cups yellow onion, chopped
• ▢ 1 heaping tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
• ▢ 76 ounces pork and beans
• ▢ 3/4 cup BBQ sauce
• ▢ 1/2 cup molasses
• ▢ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• ▢ 3 tablespoons Creole or Dijon mustard
• ▢ 1 tablespoon worcestershire

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• In a 12-inch skillet, cook the bacon (10 ounces) until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of drippings from skillet. When the bacon has cooled, place it in the fridge.
  
• Using the same skillet, cook onion (1 cup), over medium heat until it's translucent. Add garlic (1 heaping tablespoon) and continue to cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  
• To the bowl of a 4-6 quart crockpot, add cooked onion, cooked garlic, beans (76 ounces), BBQ sauce (3/4 cup), molasses (1/2 cup), mustard (3 tablespoons), Worcestershire sauce (1 tablespoon), sugar (2 tablespoons), and onion (1 cup). (Everything except the cooked bacon). Stir to combine well, cover with lid.
  
• Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. Sprinkle bacon over baked beans and serve!
  

Fans Also Made:

• 
  Calico Beans Recipe
• 
  Charro Beans
• 
  Coca Cola Baked Beans
• 
  Cowboy Baked Beans

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Notes

1. To Drain Or Not To Drain: I add the beans with all the liquid from the can as well. When they’re done cooking, the beans in the sauce will look slightly thin. The sauce becomes almost instantly thick and glorious when they’re removed from the heat and plated in a serving bowl, and allowed to set 5-10 minutes.
2. Where’s The Salt? Since we’re using canned beans, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to add salt. After the beans are cooked, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you do indeed add salt or other seasonings, leave the heat on the crockpot for about 10 minutes so the seasoning will melt into the beans.
3. Customizable Sweetness: If you find the beans too sweet, reduce the amount of brown sugar or use a less sweet BBQ sauce. You can balance sweetness with a touch of vinegar or mustard.
4. Add More Meat! If you like your beans meaty, brown a pound of ground beef (I use 80/20 for best flavor) or the same amount of country pork sausage. I like to buy my ground sausage in bulk form. “Bulk” refers to sausage that is sold or prepared in loose form, without being stuffed into casings. If you can’t find it in bulk, I like Jimmy Dean’s Premium pork sausage roll. It comes wrapped in plastic and does not have a casing.
5. Beans: I love the ease and convenience of using pork and beans. That said, variety is a beautiful thing. Feel free to use a combo of pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, great northern beans, black beans, or everyone’s favorite, Ranch Beans!
6. Add a Sweet and Tangy Element: A splash of apple cider vinegar or a bit of hot sauce can balance the sweetness of the molasses and BBQ sauce.
7. Make Them With Some Fruit: Consider adding diced apples or pineapple for a unique, sweet, and tart flavor.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 764kcal | Carbohydrates: 118g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 2301mg | Potassium: 1814mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 286mg | Iron: 8mg

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