These easy Crock Pot Baked Beans from scratch combine the classic BBQ flavor with smoky bacon to create an easy baked beans recipe that explodes with sweet, savory, smoky flavor in every bite. It's the classic summer or potluck side made even easier!
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These easy crock pot baked beans with canned beans make an easy side dish for all your summer parties and entertaining! Instead of simmering baked beans on the stove or heating up the whole house with the oven, you can make them in your crock pot.
Dump everything into the Crock Pot and let it simmer until you've got a flavorful side dish to pair with any main BBQ course, like hot dogs, burgers, or grilled chicken!
The slow cooker makes cooking beans so easy! Try these Cowboy Beans and Crock Pot Pinto Beans next!
Why You'll Love These Best Crock Pot Baked Beans with Bacon
With a recipe this easy, delicious, and classic, there's a lot to love.
- Simple Ingredients: These baked beans are made with basic ingredients you may already have around in your kitchen or you can garb on a quick trip to the grocery store.
- Easy & Convenient: All you have to do is dump everything into your crock pot. It literally does all the work. They're also great to make ahead for meal prepping!
- Versatile: Adjust the ingredients to make these beans uniquely your own. Make it as spicy, sweet, or smoky as you like.
- Budget-Friendly: This dish is easy on your wallet!
Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen and your local grocery store.
- Thick Cut Bacon: Adds texture along with a layer of smokiness to the beans creating the ultimate smoky and sweet flavor!
- White Onion & Garlic: Aromatics cooked with the beans giving them more depth of flavor.
- Green Bell Pepper: Adds a hint of garden-fresh taste and a pop of green color.
- Canned Beans: I like using a mixture of pinto beans and kidney beans for a bit of variety. You can also use all pinto beans or replace the beans with canned white beans instead.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite bottle or jar of BBQ sauce to create the sweet and smoky that makes your beans really shine.
- Ketchup: Adds a natural sweetness and a hint of acidity along with some robust tomato flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Enhances the sweetness in the beans. I prefer brown sugar for the complex flavor it gets from the addition of molasses to it.
- Paprika: For a pop of flavor. You can also try it with smoked paprika if you want a more intense essence of smokiness.
- Yellow Mustard: Adds a tangy layer of flavor that balances out the other flavors in the beans.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds a bit of saltiness, umami, and tanginess!
Check the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and the quantities you need of each.
Variations
- Spicy Kick. Give your baked beans with bacon a spicy kick by adding a diced jalapeno to the pot. Chipotle chilies in adobo sauce add spiciness and more smokiness too!
- Meatless. Skip the bacon if you prefer baked beans without bacon! You will want to use a bit of olive oil or another vegetable oil to cook the vegetables at the start.
How To Make Baked Beans in the Crock Pot
This recipe is incredibly easy to make. You'll only have to cook the bacon and veggies in a skillet. After that, the crock pot does everything for you.
- Step 1: Cook the Bacon. Cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove it from the skillet and let it drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
- Step 2: Cook the Vegetables. Add the minced garlic, onions, and bell pepper to the skillet with the leftover bacon grease. Cook until they're softened.
- Step 3: Add Everything to the Crock Pot. Add the ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Step 4: Cook. Cook the beans until heated through and the flavors have melded.
- Step 5: Adjust the Flavor. Taste the beans after they've finished cooking and adjust the flavor with salt and pepper as needed. Enjoy!
Storage Directions
- Storing: Cooled leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for up to three months.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers on the stove over low heat until warmed through or reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals. You may need to add a little water or broth to thin it out as it reheats. If frozen, let them thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Baked beans are a popular side dish for cookouts, barbecues, and grilling eats.
Enjoy them with these BBQ beef sandwiches or Crock Pot hot dogs for a casual weekend lunch in the backyard or by the pool. For dinner, we love to pair them with BBQ ribs or these BBQ chicken legs.
Pair them with other dishes like some slow cooker corn casserole, crack potatoes, and crock pot apple cobbler to round out your meal.
Expert Tips
- Cook Your Bacon First. Raw bacon in the crock pot may end up soft and rubbery so it's best to cook it first.
- Keep Warm in the Crock Pot. When serving for a party on game day or other gathering, leave the beans in the crock pot on warm to keep them warm during serving.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can. Just make sure you drain them properly first, as the liquid can make the slow cooker baked beans too thick and heavy.
The best beans for baked beans are pinto, kidney, black, cannellini, or great northern beans.
Yes, the canned beans should be thoroughly drained before adding them to slow cooker so you end up with the right texture.
Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup white onion (diced)
- ½ cup green bell pepper (diced)
- 2 (15 oz) cans pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
- 2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- ½ cup bbq sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon until it is crispy and golden brown. Drain off grease and saute onions and green peppers until they are soft. About 5-6 minutes. Then add veggies and bacon to the Crockpot.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the Crockpot and mix until well combined.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours and on low for 6-7 hours.
- Serve while hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Cook Your Bacon First. Raw bacon in the crock pot may end up soft and rubbery so it's best to cook it first.
- Keep Warm in the Crock Pot. When serving for a party on game day or other gathering, leave the beans in the crock pot on warm to keep them warm during serving.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Maria says
Great ideas for a new cook
Ryan Allen says
Thank you so much!
Suz B. says
Received 2 thumbs up from my bbq party guests. Spouse did suggest next time cutting back a bit on the sugar. Definitely saving this recipe to make again! This is an easy and delicious side dish, especially for folks who aren't fans of the usual canned baked beans.