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A serving of smoked baked beans with hearty bacon pieces mixed in.

Smoky Bacon and Brown Sugar Baked Beans

These Smoky Bacon and Brown Sugar Baked Beans are a hearty and flavorful side dish, featuring tender beans in a rich, sweet, and smoky sauce. Perfect for potlucks or barbecues, this recipe delivers a classic comfort food experience with a delicious twist.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Slotted spoon
  • Smoker-safe baking dish

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1 lb dried navy beans or cannellini beans soaked overnight and drained
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (or water)

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Rinse and par-cook the soaked beans in a large pot with fresh water until tender; then drain.
  • Cook chopped bacon in the same pot until crispy, then remove and set aside, reserving some bacon grease.
  • Sauté chopped onion and green bell pepper in the reserved bacon grease, then add minced garlic until fragrant.
  • Stir in crushed tomatoes, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and black pepper, and bring to a simmer.
  • Add the par-cooked beans and chicken broth to the pot, stirring to combine.
  • Transfer the bean mixture to a smoker-safe baking dish or Dutch oven.
  • Smoke at 250-275°F (120-135°C) or bake at 300°F (150°C) for 2-3 hours until the sauce thickens and beans are very tender, stirring occasionally.
  • During the final 30 minutes of cooking, stir in half of the crispy bacon.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper as needed.
  • Garnish with the remaining crispy bacon before serving.

Notes

For best results, allow the beans to soak overnight. If you don't have a smoker, baking in a conventional oven works just as well. Adjust the sweetness and smokiness to your preference by adding more brown sugar or smoked paprika. These baked beans are an excellent make-ahead dish as their flavors deepen overnight.