Sweet, tangy and just a little bit spicy, these baked beans are made completely from scratch and cook away for hours in the crockpot.—Their awesome flavor will knock your cookout guests socks off!
Yep. The ULTIMATE. Just layin’ that out there for ‘ya. Also: Made with nary a can of beans or a bottle of BBQ sauce in sight. I KNOW, insane right??
But it just had to be done. It’s summer, guys! And everyone needs a killer baked beans recipe up their sleeve. Preferably one that doesn’t involve simply opening a can of beans and throwing it in a saucepan.
Wait, how is that even a recipe?
Answer: It’s just not. We need the GOOD stuff to tuck into our crockpots and bring along to those barbecues this summer.
You know, just to make those hamburgers jealous and make Y-O-U the Queen of The Side Dish Section.
Helloooo, that earns you major respect right there. MAJOR!
Okay, I’m gonna be honest with you guys: BBQ baked beans made completely from scratch are NOT a walk in the park to make. Not because they’re super-hard (they’re actually really really easy!) but because they take time. After all, we are making the ULTIMATE baked beans here so lots of slow-cooking and waiting time is just necessary to develop all those fabulous flavors.
Worth it, friends. WORTH IT. Baked beans from a can just doesn’t even measure up to a mess of THESE beans.
Did I really just say “mess of beans” on my blog?
The dried beans themselves have to soak overnight in water and salt. This might seem like an unnecessary step, but please do not skip it! Soaking the beans for a nice long time makes for super-soft texture once you cook them!
The next morning, don’t forget to drain and rinse ’em! Be sure to reserve 4 cups of the soaking water because we’re going to use that for cooking later on.
Now it’s time to get started on all those sweet ‘n’ tangy plus a little bit of zippy flavors. This involves a few cloves of garlic, diced onion, and diced bacon getting pan-sauteed. Then coconut sugar and molasses get dumped in for sweetness. Balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce for a nice tang. And the finishing touch is a hefty amount of chili powder for some ZING.
Hoooooold me away from all this insanity.
We’re gonna bring all this to a low boil along with our reserved water and rinsed beans, then it’s into the slow-cooker for 4-5 hours which is where most of the magic is gonna happen.
Seriously. A few hours later you’re gonna lift that lid and be greeted by a GLORIOUS, magical sight. The smell alone might very well make you swoon. 😉
These baked beans are the REAL deal, friends. Forget about bringing the salad to that 4th of July cookout this year. Baked beans are what everyone REALLY wants. No, really!
And trust me on this: that giant crockpot full of saucy baked bean goodness is seriously gonna make you most the popular kid on the block. Suffice to say, there shall be ZERO leftovers.
Just keepin’ it real here, people. 😉
Ultimate Crockpot BBQ Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb dry navy beans or pinto beans
- 6 cups water
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 lb uncooked bacon diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup dark molasses
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place dry beans in a large pot. Pour water over top and stir in salt. Cover the pot and allow the beans to soak overnight.
- The next day, drain beans reserving 4 cups water. Rinse beans and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmery. Add diced bacon, garlic, and onion to pan and stir frequently until bacon begins to crisp, about 8-10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium and whisk tomato paste, molasses, sugar, vinegar, sauce, and chili powder into mixture. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly and then stir in rinsed beans and 4 cups reserved water.
- Cover beans and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and transfer to a 4-qt slow-cooker. Cook beans on high 4-5 hours until beans are soft and sauce begins to thicken. Keep beans in slow-cooker on "warm" until ready to serve. (beans will thicken up even more the longer they sit)
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
These look fantastic! I love baked beans. Love this whole food version!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly! Happy Friday. 🙂
CakeSpy says
Looks like my summer has a new side dish!
Sarah says
LMK if you try these beans! 🙂
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong says
Hi Sarah!! Bbq baked beans look delicious.. I was looking for a homemade baked beans recipe and found this one.. Just perfect! Will be making it soon.. 🙂 Pinning!
Sarah says
It sounds like it’s meant to be that you try these baked beans, Arpita! Thanks for the pin and LMK if you make these!
mira says
These beans look so delicious! Will definitely try your version Sarah! Pinned!
Sarah says
Thanks Mira! LMK if you do!!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
This is so funny, just the other day Shawn and I were talking about our favorite foods. He said his might be baked beans. I was shocked, because I never make baked beans! Only when we’re camping, just the ones in the can. He loves that with hot dogs cut up inside. Such a college boy dinner. I need to make these for him, he would be one happy fella!
Sarah says
Ahhhh! Make your guy some of these beans asap and I guarantee you’ll earn a few awesome-wife points! 😀
Dani @ DaniCaliforniaCooks says
I am always looking for new crockpot recipes that aren’t a version of shredded chicken/beef/pork. This looks awesome!
Sarah says
Thank Dani! Have an awesome Friday! 😉
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Oh man, you are reminding me that I haven’t made baked beans in forever! And I’ve never tried them out in the crock pot before, either. These look SO good, Sarah! Baked beans are my favorite and I could seriously make a meal out of these babies. Pinned!
Sarah says
Oh, I totally made a meal outta these beans. They’re just too dang good! Plus crockpot = EASY peasy! 😉 Thanks for the pin, girl!
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
What a great recipe! I have never been too big on canned beans anyhow. These look delicious! Pinning!
Sarah says
Thanks Mariah! Canned beans seriously don’t even compare to these. 😀
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
Love baked beans!! These are perfect for summer picnics!
Sarah says
Thanks Ami! They totally are necessary at any picnic!
Kelly - Life Made sweeter says
Oh my goodness, these beans look perfect, Sarah!! I love that you made them in the slow cooker and can just imagine flavorful, comforting and delicious they must be! <3
Sarah says
Aww thank you Kelly! xoxo
marcie says
I LOVE baked beans, and haven’t made them in ages! I love that you made them in the slow cooker, and you know this is getting pinned. 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks for pinning and for the kind words, Marcie!
Kelley @ Chef Savvy says
These sound like the ULTIMATE back beans! I can’t wait to make these for our next barbecue!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelley! LMK if you do! 😉
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Total PERFECTION . I could eat that whole pot on my own!
Sarah says
Aw thanks Trish!! xoxo
Chelsey says
Hi I’m super excited to try out this recipe!! I’m actually making it this weekend for our family’s Easter potluck. I was asked to bring like 5 quarts of baked beans, so I’m wondering how much this recipe makes in comparison to that?? Never made baked beans before so I’m not sure if I need to double the recipe or not?? Thanks!
Sarah says
Hi Chelsey! I would recommend doubling the recipe and that should make you 5 quarts. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Ariana says
Does this need to be for 4-5 hours or could it be done on low for 6-8?
Sarah says
Yes, cooking it on low for 6-8 hours would work just fine!
Angie says
They aren’t really BBQ baked beans if they don’t have BBQ sauce as an ingredient, are they?
Sarah says
Angie, in this particular recipe we make our own bbq sauce. 🙂
Nira says
Hi…made a batch this weekend. Did anyone else find it too salty? When i tasted it after 4 hours in the crock pot it was pretty salty. i added 2 cups of water and then another 2 hours in the crock pot. Still pretty salty. Next time i might cut down on the salt for the soaking and eliminate it altogether when i precooked before the crock pot part.
Nira says
Hi…made a batch this weekend. Did anyone else find it too salty? When i tasted it after 4 hours in the crock pot it was pretty salty. i added 2 cups of water and then another 2 hours in the crock pot. Still pretty salty. Next time i might cut down on the salt for the soaking.
Michelle says
Anyone have a problem with the beans not softening when following this recipe?
Michelle says
Anyone have a problem with the beans not softening while in the crock pot?
Michelle says
Sarah, I would love to try this again, but I followed the recipe to the letter and the beans were never soft enough…please respond?
Sarah says
Hi Michelle! I’m so sorry to hear you’re having trouble with this recipe. Were the beans completely covered in the liquid? And how long did you cook them for? I’m thinking you just need to cook them a little longer and they’ll soften up.
Michelle says
They were completely covered and I cooked them longer than the recipe called for (I think another hour or two, adding liquid as needed) in hopes they would soften. Any suggestions? I don’t remember which type of beans I used, might one soften better than another?
Sarah says
I would suggest using dried pinto beans next time and perhaps try soaking them in water overnight? Then cook them as the recipe directs.