These Slow Cooker Baked Beans are cooked to perfection with brown sugar, barbecue sauce, bacon, and a few other basic ingredients. This is my classic recipe for crockpot baked beans that I make over and over.
If I’m not making these homemade baked beans, I make Hawaiian baked beans or land your man baked beans.
Why this crock pot baked beans recipe works
Baked beans are one of the most popular side dishes, especially when there’s a bbq or potluck on the agenda. Instead of settling with canned beans, enhance the flavor with the best baked bean recipe like this. All you need are just a few pantry staples that you most likely already have on hand.
This recipe also works because of the short prep time and cooking time. It’s a great recipe that can easily be tweaked to get the perfect flavor you’re looking for. Get ready to give canned baked beans an entirely new burst of taste!
Recipe Ingredients
- Bush’s Baked Beans – I use the homestyle or original variety. I prefer not to use any flavored varieties such as maple or onion for they can be overpowering.
- Bacon – cook the bacon halfway (not completely done and crisp) doing this will give the beans a browned flavor but also allow the bacon to release some of its juices into the beans.
- Barbecue – Use your favorite bbq sauce here. I like a plain barbecue sauce for this recipe.
- Brown sugar – I only add one tablespoon of light brown sugar so the beans aren’t too sweet. (You can use dark brown sugar, works well too!). Double the brown sugar if you like sweeter baked beans.
- Yellow Mustard – Adds a contrast to the sweetness in this recipe.
- Sweet Yellow Onion – Just one cup of diced will do.
- Worcestershire Sauce – this is the secret ingredient! Adds a little tang to the beans.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Slice the raw bacon into 1/2 inch pieces. Cook bacon on the stovetop in a skillet until HALFWAY browned, drain. Add to the crock pot. Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
Step Two – Place the slow cooker lid onto the pot. Cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 3.5 hours. If your slow cooker cooks hot, be sure to stir these once or twice at the end of the cooking time. Serve and enjoy!
What to serve with Crockpot Baked Beans?
- Slow cooked baked beans always pair well with delicious barbecued foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken.
- They also pair well with other meals like baked pork chops or baked chicken.
- Many baked beans dish recipes can also be served as a meal of its own, especially if it’s packed with meat and veggies.
- When it comes to serving them, they are best to serve warm and either directly from the slow cooker or poured into a serving bowl. If you choose to keep them in the slow cooker, you’ll want to keep stirring occasionally.
Recipe FAQS
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained, 1 lb. ground sausage, browned and drained, 1-2 cups diced ham, or 8 ounces turkey bacon, sliced, cooked halfway and drained. You can also use precooked diced bacon.
Use 2 tablespoons of one of the following: Honey, White sugar, coconut sugar, or pure maple syrup.
If you choose to use pork and beans instead of baked beans in this recipe I would double the brown sugar and barbecue sauce in this recipe for they are less sweet than baked beans.
You can play around with flavors by adding dijon mustard, a little bit of bacon grease, and a splash of apple cider vinegar. However you jazz these beans up you will end up with the best baked beans!
Leftover slow cooker beans can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 1 week.
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Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Ingredients:
- 8 oz. bacon (half of a 16 oz. package)
- 56 oz. Homestyle Bush's Baked Beans
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
- 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Instructions:
- Slice the raw bacon into 1/2 inch pieces. Cook on the stove top in a skillet until HALFWAY browned, drain. Add to the slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for 5 hours or HIGH for 3.5 hours.
- Stir, serve and enjoy!
- Note – If your slow cooker cooks hot, be sure to stir these once or twice at the end of the cooking time. Mine had no problem, but often on thick and sweet recipes they tend to stick on the edges.
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- white sugar
- maple syrup
- honey
- 1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
- 1 lb. ground sausage, browned and drained
- 1-2 cups diced ham
- 8 ounces turkey bacon, sliced, cooked halfway and drained
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
My family demands I make these for every special occasion. I use a mustard based bbq to make them extra tangy.
Love your recipe and planning on doubling next time. What is the recommended slow cook time for the extra quantity or is it the same?
For this type of recipe, the same amount of cooking time should be fine.
Did you use the prepared mustard or dry yellow mustard?
Prepared mustard.
What size slow cooker would you use to double the recipe?
When doubled, it will still fit in a 6 quart.
Thank you! Happy 4th!
If I decide to use honey just to give them a little sweetness how much would you suggest that I use
I would use a tablespoon,
Adding diced green bell peppers adds a wonderful flavor to baked beans.
This is a great recipe. I doctored them up just a little. I added two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of crushed garlic and OMG they are super delicious. 10 people at a 30-person party asked me for the recipe
Did you sauté the garlic before putting it in, or did you put it in raw? Thank you!
Can I double this recipe in one slow cooker or should I use two? I’m having a crowd and am afraid 10 servings isn’t enough. Thanks!
You can double it! It will work great.
I have made these baked beans several times in my crockpot and they are excellent. How might I convert this recipe for an instant pot?
Thanks……
I’m unsure if there is enough liquid, I apologize. I am not an instant pot expert.