Crockpot Baked Beans
106 CommentsUpdated Jul 06, 2026
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These Crockpot Baked Beans are packed with all the summer flavors you love; bacon, barbecue, onion and a few secret ingredients. Save this recipe for all your get-togethers.
We love serving these easy baked beans with slow cooker baby back ribs or our pulled ham recipe.
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Featured Comment
“My boyfriend and i are literally OBSESSED with this recipe! We’ve made it many, many times and plan to make it again tonight!”
– Brey
You’ll love my tested recipe for Crockpot Baked Beans! It’s got just the right amount of each needed flavor, and the slow cooker melds them all together.
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.
Key Ingredeints
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.
How to Make Crockpot Baked Beans
- Add the cooked bacon, baked beans, onion and other ingredients to the slow cooker.
- Cook until the beans are bubbly and all the flavors come together. Canned beans hold their shape well, even with the long cooking time.
Crockpot Baked Beans Substitutes and Variations
Meat Swap: 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.
Up the Flavor: For extra flavor, add a dash of vinegar, a touch of bacon grease, or Dijon mustard.
Vegetarian: Omit the bacon and add bell peppers and another type of bean.
Sugar Swap: Instead of brown sugar, use two tablespoons of one of the following: honey, white sugar or pure maple syrup.
Hawaiian: Add ham and pineapple at the beginning of the cooking time.
What goes good with Baked Beans?
- Baked beans always pair well with delicious barbecued foods like hamburgers, hot dogs and slow cooker pulled pork.
- They also pair well with other meals like pork chops and onions or slow cooker chicken thighs. We love to serve baked beans alongside crockpot spiral ham on Easter! Or Slow Cooker Whole Chicken for a Sunday dinner.
- Other side dishes that taste great are cornbread, crockpot mac and cheese and crockpot collard greens.
- For a leftover serving idea, you can add sliced hot dogs to the baked beans and make beanies and weenies.
How can I make Baked Beans that Aren’t Sweet?
Skip the brown sugar and use ketchup instead of barbecue sauce; that should cut down on the sweetness quite a bit.
Can dried beans be used to make slow cooker baked beans?
Using dried beans is more finicky and time-consuming than using already-cooked beans. I’ve found that when using dried beans, they are usually overcooked or undercooked, making it hard to achieve the perfect doneness.
Other baked bean recipes to try:
If I’m not making these homemade baked beans, I make these sweet Hawaiian baked beans or beefy land your man baked beans.
Baked Beans and Little Smokies make a hearty fun dish, while Apple Pie Baked Beans add a sweet and spiced twist.
Cowboy Beans bring bold heat, and Root Beer Baked Beans offer a rich, caramelized flavor.
If you tried this Slow Cooker Baked Beans recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Happy Slow Cooking!
How to Video
Ingredients
- 8 oz. bacon, (half of a 16 oz. package)
- 56 oz. Homestyle Bush's Baked Beans, (or original)
- 2 Tbsp. bacon drippings, (this is optional to add to the 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
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
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!
Add garlic when you add the onion.
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.
My neighbor brought over your baked beans to share. Honestly, they are the best beans I have ever had! And so easy to make! I’m taking them to the potluck on Father’s day. I know they’ll be a hit.
Can I make these the night before, stick them in the fridge and slow cook them the next day?
Yes, though beware, some have had their slow cooker crack from the cold ceramic being heated up.
I love all of your recipes and they are so point on and full of flavor!! Thank you for sharing them!! You are awesome. And p.s. I am once again making your super awesome baked beans in a crockpot from Bush canned beans! They are always a hit and I have gotten asked for the recipe on many occasions! Maybe someday when I retire and have nothing better to do. I will try it with dried beans. But meanwhile the canned beans work fantastic!! Thanks again!!
I’m so glad you like this and thank you for the kind comment.
Thank you for sharing your recipe. That was very kind of you. Like you said, canned or scratch beans is personal preference. Thanks
Canned baked beans? Are you kidding?
FYI most baked beans you eat at potlucks are from a can. 🙂 you can make always make them from scratch if you prefer.
Can you use regular canned beans instead?
You would have to doctor them up much more.
Great recipe. Thankyou