Ingredient Notes:
Baked Beans – It may seem odd to start with already baked beans in a baked beans recipe but consider this an upgrade! We use a variety of canned baked beans and often just mix and match with different types. Use any you like!
Bacon – Is there anything bacon doesn’t improve? You’ll fry up some bacon and add it to the crockpot with a little bit of the grease. That’s pure flavor!
Garlic & Onion – We cook this with the bacon in the bacon grease for mixing in with the baked beans. These will add plenty of savory flavor to the slow cooker baked beans. You can add minced jalapeno if you want to spice it up!
Sauce – You’ll need a mix of ketchup, yellow mustard, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning. Any variety of BBQ sauce is okay. We like Sweet Baby Ray’s or our homemade bourbon bbq sauce!
Seasoning – We’re adding in some brown sugar for sweetness, smoked paprika for extra smoky flavor, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt!
Our Favorite Canned Baked Beans:
We start with canned baked beans – the kind that are already seasoned and saucy! We just doctor them up a bit, because to be honest, I don’t love baked beans straight from the can. We like them thick, sticky, sweet, and saucy!
While you can use any variety of canned baked beans we usually go for Bush’s Grilling Beans. The steakhouse variety and bourbon brown sugar are a great combo.
You’ll use between 40-50 ounces of beans. It doesn’t really make a difference in the sauciness as long as you’re in that range.
Step by Step Instructions:
Dice up your bacon and onion and mince the garlic.
Cook the bacon with the onion and garlic in a skillet until the fat has rendered and the veggies have softened.
Add the bacon and onions, baked beans, the sauce ingredients, and the seasoning to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine.
Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 6 to 7 hours. Serve warm! The longer these cook, the thicker and stickier the sauce gets.
Helpful Tip!
Storage & Freezing:
These crockpot baked beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days. They can be reheated on the stove, in the microwave, or in the crockpot.
These baked beans can also be frozen for up to a few months in a freezer safe bag or container. Let them cool first before storing.
Serving Suggestions:
Baked beans are the ultimate side dish! They’re perfect for just about any kind of family gathering or BBQ. Try these slow cooker baked beans alongside some of our favorite main dishes:
