After you try these Smoked Baked Beans, you will never want to return to regular baked beans from a can ever again! This recipe has the perfect balance of flavors. Just the right amount of spice. The right amount of sweetness. A wonderful tang from the bourbon and the vinegar, and don’t forget that lovely smoky flavor!
Side dishes are as important to your meal as are the main course. If you are looking for some other great side dish ideas, why not check out this amazing Grilled Romaine Lettuce recipe. Or, for something a little different, why not try this Smoked Scalloped Potatoes recipe!
There is nothing like making homemade smoked baked beans from scratch. The smoky flavor that is imparted by the smoker creates a flavor profile that is simply unmatched!
HELPFUL ITEMS FOR THIS RECIPE
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WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE Smoked Bake Beans?
INGREDIENTS
- Bacon
- Onion
- Jalapeno peppers
- Red bell pepper
- Garlic
- Pinto beans
- Kidney beans
- Apple juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Brown sugar
- Bourbon
- Brown mustard
- Barbecue sauce
- Maple syrup
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper
- Chili powder
HOW TO MAKE Smoked Baked Beans
While you are preheating your smoker, heat your dutch oven over medium-high heat on a stovetop or side burner, add the chopped bacon, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is just crispy, about 5 – 7 minutes. Do not drain the bacon fat from the pan! Then add the chopped onions, jalapenos, and bell pepper and saute for 5 minutes.
In a large measuring cup or mixing bowl with a spout, combine the apple juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, bourbon, brown mustard, BBQ sauce, and maple syrup. Whisk everything together well until the brown sugar is dissolved in the liquid.
Next, rinse the canned pinto and kidney beans, then add them to the dutch oven. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Then add the Kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, and chili powder.
Now pour in the liquid and stir, making sure it is mixed well. Cover and bring to a slow, low boil. Once it is boiling, remove the lid and place the pot into the preheated smoker. I like to use hickory wood chips to smoke these baked beans. I think it imparts a great smoky flavor to the dish. You can use any wood you like; applewood chips are also a great flavor choice. I think it’s fun to play around with different woods when smoking.
Smoke the beans for 3 hours, stirring once or twice during the cooking time. You can prepare these fantastic smoked baked beans ahead of time. Simply reheat them on a cooktop or side burner before serving.
Serving your Smoked Baked Beans
Obviously, these smoked baked beans are the perfect side for anything BBQ’ed. Whether you are serving pulled pork, chicken, or beef, there is nothing better than a bowl of smoked baked beans on the side!
Look at all the great ingredients in that bowl of smoked baked beans!
MAKING THIS RECIPE YOUR OWN
As with any recipe I put up, I always encourage you to make it your own. If you like a little more umami flavor, add a tablespoon or 2 of Worcestershire sauce. If you want your smoked baked beans a little sweeter, add a couple of tablespoons of fancy molasses.
You don’t have to use canned beans. If you prefer to use dry beans, that works too. Just make sure that you soak them in water overnight before cooking them. It’s cheaper to use the dried beans versus the canned beans too!
If you are really into it, you can smoke your own pork belly and use it in your smoked baked beans; nothing better than that, I have to say!
I think you need to make these for your next BBQ or picnic. You can thank me later!
Pin it HERE!!
Pin it HERE!!
Smoked Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb bacon chopped
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 jalapeño peppers chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cans of pinto beans 16oz
- 2 cans of kidney beans 16oz
- ¼ cup apple juice
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp bourbon
- 2 tbsp brown mustard
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 tsp fresh black pepper
- 1 tsp chili powder
Instructions
- Preheat your smoker to 180* for 15 minutes with the lid closed.
- Drain and rinse the beans under cold water and set them aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a dutch oven over high heat on a cooktop or your grill's side burner.
- Add chopped bacon to the Dutch oven and cook until crisp, about 5-7 minutes.
- Lower the heat to medium/high. Add the chopped onion, jalapeno, and bell pepper. Saute for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl with a pour spout, combine apple juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, bourbon, brown mustard, bbq sauce, and maple syrup. Whisk to make sure it is mixed well.
- Next, add the beans to the Dutch oven. Stir to combine. Cook for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, add salt, pepper, and chili powder to the Dutch oven and pour the liquid ingredients (from step 6) into the Dutch oven. Stir to combine. Cover and bring to a low boil.
- Once boiling, remove the lid. Place into the preheated smoker uncovered.
- Smoke for 3 hours. Stir once or twice throughout the cooking time.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
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