Smoked Baked Beans

Canned Beans for Smoked Baked Beans?

Heck yes! I’m all about the canned beans for this recipe, mainly because it saves a ton of time. However, we’ll drain off the juices and make our own amazing homemade baked bean sauce to knock them out of the park.

Recipe Ingredients

• Canned Beans – Kidney beans and pinto beans are my go-to bean selection. Of course, you can always do one or the other if you prefer.  
• Bacon – Take the flavor up a notch with some mouthwatering strips of bacon. Or make this a vegetarian dish and leave it out.
• Veggies – Onions, jalapenos, bell peppers, and garlic are a few fresh ingredients to add flavor and texture. 
• Seasonings – Ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, mustard, dark brown sugar, molasses, BBQ sauce, and Cajun seasoning deliver the classic baked bean taste.

How to Smoke Easy Baked Beans

Saute Raw Ingredients

1. Saute Bacon – Fry bacon in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Don’t cook the bacon until it’s crispy because it will finish cooking in the smoker. Remove and set aside. (You can do this on the stovetop or smoker.) (Photo 1)
2. Saute Veggies – In the same skillet using the bacon fat, sauté the onion, jalapeno, bell pepper, and garlic until soft and translucent. (Photos 2-3)

Smoke the Baked Beans

3. Assemble Beans – Add the kidney and pinto beans to the skillet, along with the apple cider vinegar, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, barbecue sauce, Cajun seasoning, and pepper. Stir everything until well combined. (Photos 4-7)
4. Add Bacon – Place the partially cooked bacon on top of the beans. (Photo 8)
5. Smoke – Put the skillet in the pellet grill or on a charcoal grill and smoke for 2-3 hours (until the beans’ flavors meld). Check the liquid level: If the beans start drying out, add more barbecue sauce or water to keep them moist.
6. Serve hot, and enjoy your delicious smoked baked beans!

Recipe Variations

• Customize it! Choose your favorite barbecue sauce for more sweet or smokey layers of flavor, depending on your taste. Or make your own with my homemade version. And, as always, feel free to adjust seasonings and ingredients to taste.
• Tropical twist. Add diced pineapple chunks and ham or smoked sausage. Sweeten the beans with pineapple juice, brown sugar, and a touch of cinnamon. 🍍
• Make it cheesy. Stir in shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese into the baked beans for a gooey and cheesy delight. Top with crumbled tortilla chips for a crunchy finish. Or serve it as a dip with tortilla chips on the side.
• Standard baked beans. This recipe works great in the oven if you don’t have a pellet smoker. Just add a dash of liquid smoke, and you’ve got that awesome smoky flavor.

Tips and Tricks

• You can saute the raw ingredients on the stovetop or cook them in your smoker. Either way works. 
• Check the liquid level often. If the beans start drying out, add more barbecue sauce or water to keep them moist. 
• Choose smoking wood that complements the flavor of the beans. Fruitwoods like apple or cherry or mild woods like oak work well for smoked beans. Avoid strong, overpowering woods like mesquite.
• Baked beans smoked on a pellet grill are super easy because you can set it and forget it. But you can soak wood chips and smoke them over indirect heat in your charcoal grill.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Make these beans a day or two ahead of time if you please. Store cooled smoked beans in the fridge for up to three days in an airtight container.

Reheat them on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through to serve.

You can also freeze smoked beans in airtight containers for up to three months. Thaw them in the fridge before reheating.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve smoked baked beans hot off the smoker for an authentic smokey Southern experience.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat. 

FAQs

What Goes With Smoked Baked Beans

Smoked baked beans go with all the meats! Try it with smoked brisket, pellet grilled chicken thighs, or smoked pulled pork. Any BBQ meat tastes fantastic with these beans. I also like to serve them with a side of coleslaw, just to balance them out with something fresh and crunchy. 

More Easy Side Dish Recipes to Try

• Smoker Corn on the Cob
• Savory Smoked Brussels Sprouts
• Baked Potatoes (in the Smoker!)
• Tasty Grilled Potato Wedges
• Grilled Zucchini and Squash

Conclusion

Crank up your smoker and give these smoked, baked beans a try! Have you already made this recipe? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.