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A cast iron skillet full of barbecued beans, with a wooden spoon set on the edge of the pan.

Easy Homemade Barbecued Beans

These fast and easy homemade barbecued beans have a sweet and smokey summertime flavor that perfectly complements any outdoor gathering.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 257 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz bacon
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup tomato sauce or ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
  • 15 oz can kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz can pinto beans drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
  • 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or liquid smoke (optional)

Instructions
 

  • In a deep oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, cook bacon until crisp. Remove and drain on a paper towel, leaving the oil in the skillet.
  • Add onion to skillet and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook one minute. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and mustard. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
  • Chop bacon into pieces, then add to pot along with beans, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika or liquid smoke. Cover and simmer 5 minutes, then remove lid and simmer for 5 more minutes. If consistency is too thick, add water to desired consistency.
  • Beans can be served at this point, or kept warm on the barbecue grill or in the oven until ready for serving.

Notes

If you prefer a smoky flavor to the beans, add the smoked paprika, which will also give it some peppery zest. If you prefer just the smokiness without the pepper, add the liquid smoke.
If you prefer a slightly more tomato taste, add the tablespoon of tomato paste. It is easy to do when you buy tomato paste in a squeezable tube, which can be kept in the refrigerator. 
Store in an airtight glass or plastic container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheat on the stovetop, adding water to thin the consistency if necessary.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 15gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 1679mgPotassium: 571mgFiber: 9gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 223IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 118mgIron: 4mg
Keyword baked beans, barbecue, Beans, cookout, picnic, summer side dish
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