This is an easy and quick bbq bean recipe that tastes like it’s been cooking all day. The secret is to use canned instead of dry beans, but add different flavors and ingredients to hide that fact. Using bacon fat gives the dish a subtle smokey flavor that you normally would get if you’ve cooked your beans on wood fire. By adding the fried bacon back to the beans at the end, we emphasize the smokiness and add a crunchy texture to the beans. 

The bbq sauce deepens the flavor of the beans and gives the dish its “cooked all day” taste. I recommend using Kansas style bbq sauce for best results. I like using a combination of three to four beans which gives the dish more complexity and color, however, you can add as many varieties as you like. Lastly, don’t forget to add a little dash of vinegar at the end; the acidity from the vinegar helps brighten and enhance all the flavors. 

One of the great things about this dish is that it can be prepared a day ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Just reheat on stovetop on low heat prior to serving. Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for 4-5 days. 

Barbecue Beans

Course: Side DishDifficulty: Easy

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

1

hour 

Easy and quick bbq beans recipe that tastes like it’s been cooking all day.

Ingredients

• 3 strips of bacon (~1/2 cup chopped)

• 2 cups chopped yellow onion

• 1 tbsp minced jalapeño (optional)

• 1/2 tsp minced garlic

• 4 cans of beans (I used cannellini, kidney, pinto and butter beans)

• 3/4 cup bbq sauce

• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

• In a large heavy bottom pot (preferably dutch oven) sauté the chopped bacon until cooked but not too crispy.
• Remove the cooked bacon from the pot, leaving the fat in the pot.
• Add the chopped onion to the bacon fat and cook over medium heat until translucent.
• If you’re using jalapeño, add it to the pot and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the chopped garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Add the canned beans with all their liquids, bbq sauce, and chopped bacon.
• Cook covered over low heat for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Add the vinegar, salt and pepper and cook uncovered for another 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally until the liquid has reduced and the sauce has thickened to the desired consistency.