Crockpot Baked Beans


94 Comments


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These Crockpot Baked Beans are packed with flavor, slow-cooked to perfection with brown sugar, barbecue sauce, crispy bacon and more.

Baked beans in a slow cooekr with a spoon in them.

Baked beans are a staple side dish for barbecues and potlucks, but plain canned beans can be a bit boring. Instead of serving them straight from the can, jazz them up with this easy recipe. A few pantry staples add rich, smoky, sweet, and tangy flavor—transforming canned baked beans into something everyone will want seconds of.

Ingredients for baked beans on a table.

What you’ll Need

Here is what you need to doctor up canned baked beans. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.

  • Bush’s Baked Beans – I use the Homestyle or Original varieties. I avoid flavored options like maple or onion—they can be too strong and taste artificial.
  • Bacon – If you’re short on time, pre-cooked bacon works fine too.
  • Other ingredients: Barbecue sauce (I like Sweet Baby Ray’s), light brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and diced sweet yellow onion.
  • A Large Slow Cooker

How to make Crockpot Baked Beans

Making baked beans in a crockpot may be one of the easiest side dishes you’ll ever make. Cook the bacon part way, then add it along with the remaining ingredients. Cook low and slow—canned beans hold their shape well, even with the long cooking time. See the recipe card below the images for the entire recipe.

Cook’s Notes

Instead of bacon, you can use one pound of ground beef or ground sausage, 1–2 cups of diced ham, or the same amount of cooked turkey bacon. One sliced kielbasa sausage will also make the beans heartier.

For extra flavor, add a dash of vinegar, a touch of bacon grease, or Dijon mustard.

To make it vegetarian, add bell peppers and another type of bean.

Instead of brown sugar, use two tablespoons of one of the following: honey, white sugar or pure maple syrup.

baked beans in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon in them.

What goes good with Baked Beans?

baked beans in small white bowls with cornbread in background.
baked beans in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon in them.

Crockpot Baked Beans

4.69 from 22 votes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 10
Crockpot Baked Beans are a rich, flavorful side dish, slow-cooked to perfection with bacon, barbecue sauce, and seasonings.
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How to Video

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. Browning the bacon and draining prevents the beans from being greasy.
  • 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!

Sarah’s Notes

If you choose to use pork and beans instead of baked beans in this recipe I would double the brown sugar and barbecue sauce, for they are less sweet than baked beans.
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.

Nutrition

Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 999mg | Potassium: 604mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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94 Comments

  1. Mary says:

    can this recipe be cut in half using just one can of baked beans?
    will cooking time and temperature change?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes! Can do this, you will cook for about an hour less.

  2. Christine Ehrnfelt says:

    Dr Pepper?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I just noticed that the wrong photo was there as well, FIXED.

  3. Tiffany W Lambert says:

    I have used this recipe many many times however I have managed to leave one of my crock pots somewhere leaving me with only two. I attended a party last week where a girl had baked them. If I double this recipe and bake them in an aluminum foil pan, What temperature and how long should I bake them for?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      It’s hard to say without testing it My guess is about 30 minutes at 350.

  4. Betty says:

    Can I make day before…refrigerate and warm up in slowcooker on low next day for maybe 2 hrs?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, that will work fine. But personally, I would prepare the night before (don’t cook) and cook fresh for the meal.

      1. Cindy Suhr says:

        If I assemble the ingredients (doubled recipe) in my 6 qt crockpot the night before and then refrigerate how long and at what setting should I cook it the next evening?

      2. Sarah Olson says:

        The same cooking time should work well! Either high or low.

  5. Brey says:

    5 stars
    My boyfriend and i are literally OBSESSED with this recipe! We’ve made it many, many times and plan to make it again tonight!

  6. Sarah says:

    5 stars
    My family demands I make these for every special occasion. I use a mustard based bbq to make them extra tangy.

  7. Michael says:

    5 stars
    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?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      For this type of recipe, the same amount of cooking time should be fine.

      1. Felicia says:

        Did you use the prepared mustard or dry yellow mustard?

      2. Sarah Olson says:

        Prepared mustard.

  8. Beverly Moore says:

    5 stars
    What size slow cooker would you use to double the recipe?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      When doubled, it will still fit in a 6 quart.

  9. Tracy L Holt says:

    5 stars
    Thank you! Happy 4th!