Friends and family have been raving about my Dad’s famous homemade baked beans for decades! Now I’m sharing the simple recipe featuring bacon, brown sugar & his secret ingredient!

These Southern BBQ Baked Beans are easy to make in the oven, in a crock pot or on a smoker. They’re the perfect side dish to go with Oklahoma Onion Fried Burgers or Melt-In-Your-Mouth Smoked Brisket!

Baked beans in white bowl with black and silver spoon lifting beans out of the bowl

If you’ve ever been to a BBQ at my parents house in Oklahoma, or my house in San Diego, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ve tried my Dad’s Famous Baked Beans. After dozens of requests for the recipe, I decided it was time I finally shared his recipe on the blog!

It’s simple. Nothing fancy here. Just good ol’ southern bbq baked beans!

His secret ingredient? Ground mustard! When cooked in the sauce of the baked beans it adds a delicious flavor to the dish.

This no-fuss recipe can be baked in the oven, cooked in a slow cooker or smoked on a smoker. Whatever is easiest for you, do that! If I’m making the beans to pair with a dinner like my Dad’s Famous Captain Crunch Fried Chicken, I cook them in the oven.

When I’m hosting a party or BBQ, I toss them in the crock pot so that people can eat them throughout the party. If I’m outside smoking meats, I cook them in a cast iron dutch oven right on the smoker next to my meat.

This baked beans recipe serves 4-6 people but is easy to double or triple for a bigger group. I highly recommend making more than you think you’ll need, because I’m telling you right now, people go crazy for these baked beans!

Table of contents

BBQ baked beans in oval bowl

Step by step instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Add two cans of pork and beans to a large oven safe baking dish or casserole dish. (I’m a big fan of Van Camps brand pork and beans!)
  • Add a slice of uncooked bacon, brown sugar, bbq sauce, and diced onion.
    • Note: Our family likes to leave the bacon slice whole and remove it after baking, before serving. You can also dice the slice of bacon before adding it to the beans and serve the beans with the bacon cooked in it.
  • Season the beans with ground mustard, black pepper and kosher salt.
    • Quick Tip! You may also see ground mustard labeled as dry mustard or mustard powder at the grocery store. They’re all the same & can be used interchangeably.
  • Stir all of the ingredients together.
  • Place in the oven to bake for 90 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and serve with a slotted spoon.

How to make them in a Crock Pot

To make the recipe in a slow cooker, simply combine all of the ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Switch the crock pot over to the warm function after 6 hours. The beans can stay in the crock pot on warm for up to 4 hours.

This is a great way to keep the beans warm throughout a party or BBQ. I always use this method for my annual 4th of July party!  This is also a great way to transport the beans to a potluck and keep them warm for hours!

How to make them on a smoker

Combine all of the ingredients in a pot that’s safe to use on a smoker. I use a cast iron dutch oven. If smoking meats, the temperature of the smoker should be at 225°F. At this temperature, the beans should be on the smoker for approximately 2-3 hours.

What goes with baked beans?

Southern BBQ baked beans are perfect served with slow cooked, grilled or smoked meats. Try it as a side with these delicious main dishes!

How long will they last in the fridge?

Any leftover cooked baked beans should be stored in the refrigerator and will last 5-6 days. You can reheat them on the stove over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or in the microwave for 60-90 seconds.

You can also prepare the beans ahead of time. The uncooked beans will stay good in the fridge for up to two days before cooking them.

Baked beans in bowl with spoon of beans lifted out of the bowl

More delicious side dishes

Try these other tasty sides that compliment the best baked beans perfectly!

Baked beans in oval bowl with serving spoon in the bowl
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Dad’s Famous BBQ Baked Beans

Friends and family have been raving about my Dad’s famous baked beans for decades! Now I’m sharing the easy recipe featuring his secret ingredient!
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Author: Whitney Bond
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 30 oz pork and beans, 2 (15 oz) cans
  • 1 slice bacon
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • 1 tsp ground mustard
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp kosher salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Add the pork and beans to an oven-safe baking dish.
  • Add the bacon, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, onion, ground mustard, black pepper and kosher salt.
  • Stir all of the ingredients together.
  • Place in the oven for 90 minutes.

Notes

  • Our family likes to leave the bacon slice whole and remove it after baking, before serving. You can also dice the slice of bacon before adding it to the beans and serve the beans with the bacon cooked in it.
  • To make this recipe in a slow cooker, add all of the ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours. 
  • To make this recipe in a smoker, combine all of the ingredients in a dish safe for the smoker, such as a cast iron dutch oven. Place in a 225°F smoker for 2-3 hours.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 284kcal (14%)Carbohydrates 57g (19%)Protein 8g (16%)Fat 3g (5%)Saturated Fat 1g (5%)Cholesterol 12mg (4%)Sodium 1055mg (44%)Potassium 544mg (16%)Fiber 8g (32%)Sugar 26g (29%)Vitamin A 55mg (1%)Vitamin C 4mg (5%)Calcium 101mg (10%)Iron 2.8mg (16%)
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