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Smoked Baked Beans

5 from 4 votes
Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
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These Smoked Baked Beans with bacon are hearty, smoky, and the perfect BBQ side dish. They require minimal prep work, are smoked low and slow, and always a hit. I guarantee you will be making them all summer long!

These easy baked beans go great with my Smoked Hot Dogs!

Close up of Smoked Baked Beans in a cast iron skillet with bacon, onion, and green bell pepper with large serving spoon.

Who knew baked beans in the smoker were so good! They are perfectly smoked, slightly sweet with a little spice, and there’s bacon! Literally the best picnic side dish to serve all summer long. I could eat them alone and by the spoonful… they are that good.

Make these baked beans with any kind of pellet smoker, I use Pit Boss. If you don’t own a smoker, there are more cooking methods (gas or charcoal grill, slow cooker, and oven).

Why You’ll LOVE This Smoked Baked Beans Recipe

  • THERE’S BACON: Who doesn’t love baked beans with bacon?! Especially smoked baked beans with bacon.
  • NO REFINED SUGAR: A lot of recipes call for brown sugar, not these baked beans! We use the sweetness from Honey BBQ sauce to sweeten our beans. You could also use regular BBQ sauce with a few tablespoons of local honey.
  • MINIMAL PREP WORK: A lot of recipes require sautéing veggies and cooking the baked beans on the stove before throwing them in the smoker… I’m not sure why because it just adds another step and everything becomes mushy. Let the smoker do the work, I guarantee everything from the beans to the onion will be cooked perfectly.
  • SMOKED LOW AND SLOW: Smoking these baked beans low and slow means there is a lot of time for the smoke to infuse into the beans and the sauce. Stirring every hour will help with that as well.

VIDEO: Pit Boss Smoked Baked Beans

Smoked Baked Beans Ingredients

These smoked beans are 9 simple ingredients, and I guarantee the majority are in your pantry right now. Below are a few notes and potential substitutions.

  • Canned Baked Beans: I recommend using original recipe or types that do not have other added flavors and ingredients. Basic canned beans is what we want.
  • Bacon: Choose whatever bacon you like, I use thick cut bacon from the local butcher. Also, cook the bacon how you prefer and rough chop it.
  • Onion: I recommend using a small, mild, white onion. Chop it into small bite sized pieces.
  • Green Bell Pepper: Again, chop it into small bite sized pieces. They should be similar in size to the diced onion.
  • Honey BBQ Sauce: I use Sweet Baby Ray’s but feel free to use your favorite. If you decide to use regular BBQ sauce, adding a little bit of honey to the mix adds great flavor.
  • Ketchup: I recommend using salt free and sugar free ketchup so you get a true tomato flavor. There is enough sweet and salt from the honey BBQ sauce.
  • Mustard: I recommend full flavored mustards like Dijon, spicy, or whole ground mustard. Yellow mustard will work as well, I just like it the least.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Used to add a savory umami flavor to the beans. You can also use soy sauce, beef broth, or even apple cider vinegar in it’s place.
  • Dry Rub Seasoning: My go to for this recipe is Pit Boss Sweet Heat rub but anything with the spicy-sweet profile will be just fine.
Ingredients. Baked beans, honey BBQ sauce, sweet heat rub by Pit Boss, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, bacon, onion, and green bell pepper.

Equipment Needed:

  • Pellet Smoker: I use a vertical pellet smoker by Pit Boss but any wood pellet smoker or pellet grill will work. You can also use your gas grill or charcoal grill with a smoker box and wood chips for the same result.
  • Wood Pellets: I use Competition Blend pellets by Pit Boss, it is a combination of maple, hickory, and cherry wood. Other great options include oak and pecan wood. I do not recommend using mesquite or hickory because they are a tad too strong for baked beans.
  • Cast Iron Skillet: I love using my Lodge cast iron because it evenly distributes heat and stays warm throughout the smoking process.

How to Make Baked Beans in the Smoker

Here’s a quick overview of how to make smoked beans with any pellet smoker, the recipe card will have full details.

1. PREP YOUR SMOKER: Add wood pellets to the hopper and fill your water pan with cool water. Preheat the smoker for 20 to 30 minutes prior to smoking the baked beans.

2. MIX TOGETHER THE BAKED BEANS: To a lightly greased skillet add the canned baked beans, bacon pieces, onion, green bell pepper, honey BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and dry rub seasoning. Stir everything together until well combined.

3. SMOKE: Let the baked beans smoke for 2 to 3 hours or until warmed through. Be sure to stir them every hour too!

4. STIR AND SERVE: This smoked baked bean recipe can be served warm out of the smoker, at room temperature, or even cold out of the refrigerator. They are super delicious no matter how you serve them!

Storing Information

Always store leftover Smoked Baked Beans in an airtight container and in the refrigerator. They will last up to 7 days and can be ate cold out of the refrigerator, at room temperature, or rewarmed on the stove top or in the microwave. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

What to Serve with Smoked Baked Beans

These smoked baked beans with bacon are the perfect, hearty side dish to A LOT of different things.

Smoked beans right out of the smoker before they have been stirred.

Fun Variations:

FEED A CROWD by doubling or even tripling this recipe. You can also smoke them in a disposable aluminum pan for easy prep and even easier clean up.

USE YOUR FAVORITE BBQ SAUCE and swap out the honey BBQ sauce. I recommend adding a few tablespoons of local honey so you don’t miss out on the sweet note. You could also use maple syrup or brown sugar.

ADD JALAPENOS or use them in place of green bell peppers, it adds a wonderful spice note! Feel free to keep the seeds in or remove them (depending on the spice level you want). Don’t worry about sautéing them ahead of time, they will cook down enough as they smoke.

MAKE THIS RECIPE INTO SMOKED COWBOY BAKED BEANS by adding ground beef. For every 1- 28 ounce can of beans I recommend a half pound of ground beef (brown it prior to adding to the mixture and smoking).

Smoked Baked Beans with a large spoon ready to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Beans in the Smoker

What is the best wood for smoking baked beans?

Light or fruit flavored woods are best for smoking baked beans. Use maple, hickory, cherry, oak, pecan wood or a combination of those woods. I do not recommend using mesquite or hickory woods because they are very strong for baked beans.

How long to smoke baked beans at 250?

At 250 degrees Fahrenheit baked beans should be smoked for 2 to 3 hours. The longer they smoke the smokier they will be. Always stir your smoked baked beans every hour.

How many Smoked Baked Beans do I need per person?

If you are serving baked beans for dinner with 1 to 2 sides, I recommend 1/2 cup per person. If you are making them for a party with 3 or more sides, I recommend 1/4 cup per person. I always make more than what is needed so there are leftovers.

Baked Beans in a cast iron skillet with bacon, onion, and green bell pepper with a smokey orange color.

Other Cooking Methods

No smoker? No problem! You can also make these baked beans in the slow cooker or in the oven. Feel free to add a half teaspoon of liquid smoke so you do not miss out on any smoky flavor.

BAKED BEANS IN THE SLOW COOKER: Cook it on low, stirring every 20 minutes, until it is warmed and delicious.

BAKED BEANS IN THE OVEN: Follow the same instructions as if you were smoking it. Same temperature, same amount of cooking time, stir every hour too.

BAKED BEANS ON THE GAS GRILL OR CHARCOAL GRILL: Fill a smoker box with wood chips and preheat grill to 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir the beans every 15 minutes until warmed.

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Enjoy Entirely, Elizabeth
Close up of Smoked Baked Beans with bacon, onion, and green bell pepper.

Smoked Baked Beans

Elizabeth Swoish
This Smoked Baked Beans recipe is the best BBQ side dish to serve all summer long. They are perfectly smoked, slightly sweet with a little spice, and there's BACON!
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Side Dish
Servings 8 1/2 cup portions
Calories 154 kcal

EQUIPMENT

  • Smoker - I use a Pit Boss vertical pellet smoker
  • BBQ Wood Pellets - I use a blend of pellets like maple, hickory, cherry, oak, and pecan.
  • 9" Cast Iron Skillet - I love mine from Lodge

INGREDIENTS
  

  • 1 28 ounce baked beans - original
  • 6 slices bacon - cooked and rough chopped
  • 1 small onion - diced
  • ½ green bell pepper - diced
  • cup honey BBQ sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons mustard; - I use Dijon
  • 1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons dry rub seasoning - I use Pit Boss Sweet Heat Rub

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Preheat smoker to 250 °F, fill hopper with wood pellets, and add water to the water pan.
  • To a lightly oiled cast iron skillet add the canned baked beans, rough chopped bacon, diced onion, diced green bell pepper, honey BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and dry rub seasoning.
  • Stir the ingredients together until everything is well combined.
  • Place the skillet of baked beans in the smoker to smoke for 2 to 3 hours. Stir them every hour or so.
  • Remove the smoked baked beans from the smoker and serve immediately.
    NOTE: These taste great at room temperature and cold as well.

VIDEO

RECIPE NOTES

Storing Information

  • Refrigerated, in an airtight container, for up to 7 days.
  • Frozen, in an airtight container, for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat on the stove top or in the microwave or until warmed through. These are great eaten cold, right out of the refrigerator.
 

Other Cooking Methods

  • BAKED BEANS IN THE SLOW COOKER: Cook it on low, stirring every 20 minutes, until it is warmed and delicious. For smoky flavor add1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke.
  • BAKED BEANS IN THE OVEN: Follow the same instructions as if you were smoking it. Same temperature, same amount of cooking time, stir every hour too. For smoky flavor add1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke.
  • BAKED BEANS ON THE GAS GRILL OR CHARCOAL GRILL: Fill a smoker box with wood chips and preheat grill to 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir the beans every 15 minutes until warmed.

Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

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By Elizabeth Swoish on May 19th, 2023
Elizabeth Swoish holding a camera up to her eye taking a photo.

About Elizabeth Swoish

Elizabeth Swoish is the founder and CEO of Entirely Elizabeth. She is a self-taught foodie and mocktail enthusiast with a business degree in data analysis. Read Elizabeth's food journey or connect on your favorite social media channels.

4 thoughts on “Smoked Baked Beans”

  1. 5 stars
    I recently tried these mouthwatering smoked baked beans, and they were absolutely delicious! The combination of ingredients creates a flavor profile that is simply irresistible! My family is craving more!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    This dish was delicious, I loved the combination of honey, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.

    Reply

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