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These BBQ Baked Beans are smoky, sweet, saucy, and incredibly easy to make. Using home-canned white beans makes this recipe even better, especially when you have a pantry full of beans that need to be put to good use.

I made this batch using my homemade canned white beans and Kinder's Hickory BBQ Sauce. The combination creates a rich, smoky barbecue flavor without needing a long list of ingredients or hours of cooking.

These beans are the perfect easy side dish for cookouts, summer get-togethers, potlucks, or a simple weeknight dinner. Serve them alongside burgers, grilled chicken, pulled pork, ribs, or just about anything coming off the grill.

Why You'll Love These BBQ Baked Beans

One thing I love about this recipe is how simple it is. Baked beans don't have to start with a can of already-seasoned baked beans. Plain white beans are the perfect blank canvas for creating your own version.

Using my home-canned white beans also gives me another way to use what I've preserved. I love being able to grab a jar from the pantry and turn it into an easy side dish.

For the barbecue flavor, I used Kinder's Hickory BBQ Sauce. It gives the beans that smoky, slightly sweet flavor that makes baked beans so good without having to add a dozen different seasonings.

Ingredients for BBQ Baked Beans

For these easy baked beans, you'll need:

• White beans, drained — I used my homemade canned white beans
• Kinder's Hickory BBQ Sauce
• Brown sugar
• Bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Onion, finely diced
• Worcestershire sauce
• Yellow mustard
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Optional additions: If you like sweeter baked beans, add a little extra brown sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup. For beans with a little kick, add cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or diced jalapeños.

How to Make BBQ Baked Beans

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

If you're using bacon, cook it in a skillet until it is crisp. Remove the bacon and set it aside. You can sauté your diced onion in a little of the bacon grease for even more flavor.

Drain the white beans and place them in a baking dish.

Add the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, cooked onion, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and most of the crumbled bacon. Stir everything together gently so you don't mash the beans.

Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings or barbecue sauce as needed.

Sprinkle the remaining bacon over the top.

Bake uncovered at 350°F for about 30–40 minutes, or until the beans are hot and bubbling and the sauce has thickened.

Let the beans sit for about 5–10 minutes before serving. The sauce will continue to thicken slightly as they cool.

Can I Use Regular Canned White Beans?

Absolutely!

You don't have to have home-canned beans to make this recipe. Store-bought canned white beans work perfectly.

Try:

• Great Northern beans
• Navy beans
• Cannellini beans

Drain and rinse the beans before adding them to your baking dish.

If you're using home-canned beans like I did, simply drain them before preparing the recipe.

Make Them Your Own

The great thing about homemade BBQ baked beans is that you can easily change them depending on what you have in the pantry.

For sweeter beans, add more brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

For smokier beans, add smoked paprika or use extra hickory barbecue sauce.

For spicy baked beans, stir in diced jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or your favorite hot sauce.

You can even turn these into a heartier dish by adding cooked ground beef or pulled pork.

What to Serve with BBQ Baked Beans

These beans were practically made for barbecue season. Serve them with:

• Pulled pork sandwiches
• Hamburgers and cheeseburgers
• Hot dogs
• BBQ ribs
• Coleslaw

They're also a great choice for potlucks because you can make a large batch without much extra work.

Can I Make BBQ Baked Beans Ahead of Time?

Yes! In fact, they're a great make-ahead side dish.

Prepare the bean mixture and place it in your baking dish. Cover and refrigerate until you're ready to bake.

You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you're putting the dish into the oven straight from the refrigerator.

Leftover baked beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3–4 days.

Slow Cooker BBQ Baked Beans

You can also make these in the slow cooker.

Combine all of the ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours, stirring occasionally.

If the beans become thicker than you'd like, stir in a splash of water. If they're too thin, remove the lid toward the end of cooking to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.

Tips for the Best Homemade Baked Beans

Don't overmix the beans. Home-canned white beans can be especially tender, so fold the ingredients together gently.

Start with less barbecue sauce and add more if needed. You want the beans to be saucy without completely drowning them.

Let them rest before serving. Those few minutes after they come out of the oven give the sauce a chance to thicken.

And don't be afraid to taste as you go. Barbecue sauces vary quite a bit in sweetness and smokiness, so adjust the brown sugar, mustard, and seasonings based on the sauce you're using.

Easy BBQ Baked Beans

If you're looking for a simple homemade side dish for your next cookout, give these BBQ Baked Beans with White Beans a try.

Using homemade canned white beans makes this recipe extra special, but regular canned beans work just as well. Add your favorite hickory barbecue sauce, a few simple seasonings, and some crispy bacon, then let the oven do the rest.

They're smoky, saucy, a little sweet, and exactly the kind of easy side dish everyone goes back for seconds of.

Love beans? Check out these other recipes

• Blistered Green Beans
• Southern Style White Beans and Ham
• Slow Cooker Pinto Beans with Ham Hock