Saucy, Smoky Baked Beans

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Get ready to make the tastiest baked beans ever! This recipe is packed with smoky bacon, sweet onions, and a blend of spices that will make your mouth water. These saucy, smoky baked beans are easy to make and perfect for your next BBQ or family dinner.

You can prep the beans in just 35 minutes and have them ready to eat in about an hour. The best part? You can make them ahead of time and reheat them later. Give this recipe a try and watch your guests ask for seconds!

Exact Ingredients List

Get ready to make some tasty baked beans! Here’s everything you’ll need:

• 4 slices bacon (2 diced, 2 for topping)
• 1 small sweet onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh black pepper

For the sauce:

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

The star of the show:

• 2 (22 ounce) cans baked beans (Bush’s Grillin’ Beans work great!)

This recipe makes 6 servings. You’ll spend about 35 minutes prepping and 35 minutes cooking. The whole process takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Remember, you can adjust the spice level by changing the amount of chipotle chili powder. Start with less if you’re not sure – you can always add more later!

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Start by cooking the diced bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cook until it’s crispy and the fat has rendered out.

Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often. The veggies should become soft.

Mix in the spices – smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes to bring out their flavors.

Pour in the vinegar, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar. Stir until everything is well combined.

Add the canned baked beans to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn off the heat. Taste and add more seasoning if needed.

If you like, place a few strips of bacon on top of the beans. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.

The beans are done when they’re bubbly and syrupy. Let them cool a bit before serving. You can make these ahead and reheat later, or even freeze them for future meals.

Possible Substitutes List

Want to switch things up? Here are some tasty swaps you can try in your saucy, smoky baked beans:

• Bacon: Turkey bacon or plant-based bacon bits
• Sweet onion: Red onion or shallots
• Bell pepper: Jalapeño or poblano for extra kick
• Smoked paprika: Regular paprika + 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
• Chipotle chili powder: Ancho chili powder or cayenne pepper

For the sauce:

• Apple cider vinegar: White vinegar or lemon juice
• BBQ sauce: Worcestershire sauce + extra brown sugar
• Ketchup: Tomato paste + water
• Dijon mustard: Yellow mustard or stone-ground mustard

Can’t find Bush’s Grillin’ Beans? Try:

• Navy beans + extra BBQ sauce
• Pinto beans + molasses
• Mix of kidney, butter, and black beans

These swaps let you customize the recipe to your taste. Feel free to mix and match! Just keep the amounts the same for best results.

How To Make It Diabetes-Friendly

To make these baked beans more diabetes-friendly, you can make a few simple changes. Start by using sugar-free BBQ sauce and ketchup. This cuts down on added sugars.

Replace the brown sugar with a natural sweetener like stevia or monk fruit. These options won’t spike your blood sugar.

Choose low-sodium canned beans to reduce salt content. Rinse them before using to remove even more sodium.

For the bacon, pick a leaner cut or use turkey bacon. This lowers the fat content. You can also skip the bacon on top to further reduce calories and fat.

Try these swaps in the recipe:

• 2 tbsp sugar-free BBQ sauce
• 2 tbsp sugar-free ketchup
• 1 tsp stevia or monk fruit sweetener
• 2 cans low-sodium baked beans, rinsed
• 2 slices turkey bacon (optional)

Follow the same cooking steps, but be careful not to overcook. Without sugar, the beans may not get as syrupy. Aim for a thicker sauce instead.

These changes make the dish more suitable for those watching their blood sugar. You’ll still get great flavor, just with fewer carbs and calories.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

For extra smoky flavor, add a dash of liquid smoke to your beans. You can also use smoked paprika instead of regular paprika.

To save time, cook the bacon ahead and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to make the beans, just chop and add it in.

Don’t have chipotle chili powder? Use regular chili powder and a pinch of cayenne pepper instead.

For easier cleanup, line your baking dish with foil before adding the beans.

To store leftovers, let the beans cool completely. Put them in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Want to freeze your beans? No problem! Here’s how:

1. Cool the beans fully
2. Put them in freezer-safe containers
3. Label with the date
4. Freeze for up to 3 months

To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight. Then warm in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or until hot all the way through.