Smoky Barbecue Baked Beans Recipe for Summer Cookouts

This easy smoky BBQ beans recipe makes the perfect side for your barbecue. Packed with rich, smoky flavour and a touch of spice, it works equally well cooked on the hob or in a barbecue-safe pan.

A tall shot of BBQ Beans. The BBQ Beans are in a black skillet, with a silver spoon sticking out of the dish. In the top of the background, you can see two small black dishes, one with salt and one with ground pepper. This is all set on a wooden background.

These smoky, slightly spicy BBQ beans are seriously delicious. With sunny weather comes more grilling, and this is a go-to side that complements all kinds of BBQ mains.

📋 What do we need?
How to make it
Pro Tip
🍽️ What to serve it with
🍲 More fantastic BBQ sides
BBQ Beans Recipe

📋 What do we need?

An overhead shot of the ingredients for Easy BBQ Beans. The ingredients are laid out on a wooden cutting board. They are as follows: an onion, 2 cloves of garlic, beans in tomato sauce, 5 means in tomato sauce, bacon lardons, smoked paprika, ground black pepper, avocado oil and cajun seasoning.

Mixed beans – a blend of kidney, pinto, haricot, borlotti and cannellini adds variety in texture and flavour. Use any mixed beans you prefer.

Bacon lardons – gives great savoury depth. Substitute diced pancetta or streaky bacon if you like.

Cajun seasoning – adds a gentle heat and aromatic spice. You can find this in larger supermarkets or use a similar spice blend.

A tall, overhead shot of BBQ Beans. The BBQ Beans are in a black skillet, with a silver spoon sticking out of the dish. In the top of the background, you can see two small black dishes, one with salt and one with ground pepper. This is all set on a wooden background.

How to make it

Full recipe and detailed steps are included in the recipe card below.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a frying pan or medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add the bacon lardons and fry until golden and crispy. Remove and drain on kitchen paper.
In the same pan, add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened, then add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
Stir in the baked beans, mixed beans, smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, black pepper and a pinch of salt. Reduce the heat to low and mix to combine.
Simmer for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are heated through and slightly softened. Just before serving, stir through the cooked bacon and heat for another minute.
Serve warm alongside your favourite BBQ mains.

Pro Tip

If your barbecue is lit, cook the beans in a barbecue-safe pan to pick up extra smoky char. They work just as well on the hob if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

The combination of smoke, savoury bacon and the beans’ natural sweetness is hard to beat.

A square shot of BBQ Beans. The BBQ Beans are in a black skillet, with a silver spoon sticking out of the dish, which is scooping some of the beans in the dish. In the background, you can see that the skillet is on a lit barbeque, in the top right of the background you can see a small flame from the barbeque.

🍽️ What to serve it with

These BBQ beans are a classic side for any barbecue. They pair well with:

BBQ

BBQ Dry Rub Ribs

Chicken

Peri Peri Chicken

Brisket sandwich with potatoes and coleslaw.

Meat

Brisket Sandwich with Garlic Sauté Potatoes and Coleslaw

BBQ

BBQ Sticky Slow-Cooked Ribs

Super simple to make and always worth it.

A tall, overhead shot of BBQ Beans. The BBQ Beans are in a black skillet. In the foreground, there is a silver spoon with some BBQ Beans in it, being held above the skillet of beans. In the top of the background, you can see two small black dishes, one with salt and one with ground pepper. This is all set on a wooden background.

🍲 More fantastic BBQ sides

Great sides are as exciting as the mains. Alongside these BBQ beans you might also serve:

Sides

Creamy Coleslaw

Pasta

Easy Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

Pasta

Easy 4 Cheese Mac ’n’ Cheese

Lunch

The Best Baked Potato Method

Salads

Simple Green Salad with Vinaigrette

Sides

Easy Creamy Potato Salad

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A square shot of BBQ Beans. The BBQ Beans are in a black skillet, with a silver spoon sticking out of the dish. In the top of the background, you can see two small black dishes, one with salt and one with ground pepper. This is all set on a wooden background.

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BBQ Beans Recipe

By Nicky Corbishley

This smoky BBQ beans recipe is an easy, flavourful side that pairs perfectly with all your favourite BBQ dishes. Cook on the hob or on the barbecue for added smokiness.

Prep Time:5

Cook Time:15

Total Time:20

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Sides

Cuisine: American, British

Ingredients

1 tbsp oil
200 g (7 oz) bacon lardons (or diced pancetta)
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
400 g (14 oz) tin baked beans
400 g (14 oz) tin mixed beans (mixed beans in chilli sauce work well)
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
½ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp salt

Instructions

Add the oil to a frying pan or medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add the bacon lardons and fry, stirring often, until golden and crispy (about 5 minutes). Remove and drain on kitchen paper.
Cook the diced onion in the pan for 3–4 minutes until it starts to soften, then add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
Stir in the baked beans, mixed beans, smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, black pepper and salt.
Turn the heat to low, mix well and simmer for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through and slightly softened.
Just before serving, stir through the cooked bacon and heat for another minute. Serve alongside your favourite BBQ dishes.

Notes

Note 1

Only a little extra salt is needed because the bacon and canned beans contain salt. Taste before serving and adjust to your preference.

Ingredient swaps

Swap bacon lardons for pancetta, and use any bean blend you prefer — kidney beans add nice texture.

Make ahead

You can prepare these ahead and refrigerate in an airtight container. Reheat in a pan until bubbling and hot throughout before serving.

Scaling

Double the recipe for a crowd or halve it for two people, keeping the same ratios.

Nutritional information

Nutrition values are approximate and given per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 17g

Nutrition information is an approximation and should be used as a guide.

Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Some links in this post may be affiliate links – if you buy through them I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nutrition information is approximate.

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