What You Need for Slow Cooker Baked Beans
The easiest baked beans start with canned pork and beans and build flavor with a few pantry ingredients. The slow cooker blends them over a few hours into a sweet, smoky, saucy side that suits barbecues, cookouts and potlucks.
Ingredients
For about 10 to 12 servings:
- 3 cans (about 28 ounces each) pork and beans, undrained
- 1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, light or dark
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- Optional: a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a few drops of hot sauce, or 1 tablespoon molasses
The amounts above are a starting point. Taste the sauce before cooking and adjust the sweetness, tang and heat.
How to Make Them
- Cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp, drain it, and crumble. Save a little grease if you want extra flavor.
- Stir the beans, onion, barbecue sauce, brown sugar and mustard together in a 4 to 6 quart slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for about 3 to 5 hours, stirring gently once or twice, or on high for about 2 to 3 hours.
- Stir in the bacon just before serving.
Raw onion softens in the sauce. For a milder flavor, sauté it with the bacon first.
Do You Need to Soak Dry Beans?
This recipe uses canned beans, so no soaking is needed. If you want to start from dry beans, cook them until tender first, since the sugar, tomato and other acidic ingredients in the sauce can keep dry beans from softening. Dry red kidney beans need to be soaked and then boiled in fresh water on the stove before slow cooking for safety. See our slow cooker pinto beans guide for more on cooking dry beans.
The Secret Ingredient
Cooks give different answers, but common flavor boosters include molasses, mustard, bacon, a little vinegar, and ingredients with a bit of fizz or sweetness such as cola or Dr Pepper. Some recipes replace part of the sugar with these. It is a matter of taste, so add small amounts and taste as you go.
Variations
- Bacon-free: Use smoked paprika and a bit of liquid smoke for smokiness.
- Ground beef baked beans: Brown 1 pound of ground beef and add it for a heartier dish.
- Mixed beans: Add a drained can of kidney, black or white beans for texture. Canned beans are already cooked and safe to add.
- Spicy: Stir in diced jalapeno or chipotle peppers in adobo.
- Sweeter and tangier: Add a spoonful of molasses and a splash of cider vinegar.
Fixing Runny or Thick Beans
- Too thin: Cook with the lid off for the last 30 to 60 minutes on high, or stir in a little more barbecue sauce. A cornstarch slurry also works. Beans also thicken as they cool.
- Too thick: Stir in a splash of water, broth or more barbecue sauce.
- Too sweet: Add a little mustard or vinegar.
Are Baked Beans Healthy?
Beans provide fiber and protein, but canned baked beans can be high in sugar and sodium. If you are watching blood pressure or sugar intake, read labels, look for lower-sodium or reduced-sugar products, and cut back on the added sugar and bacon. For individual health advice, check with your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Make Ahead, Storage and Freezing
Baked beans are a good make-ahead dish, and the flavor often improves after a day in the refrigerator. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container within two hours of cooking, and reheat until hot throughout, adding a splash of water if they seem thick. They freeze well for a few months.
What to Serve With Baked Beans
They go well with grilled chicken, ribs, burgers, hot dogs, cornbread and coleslaw. Sides such as slow cooker potatoes, crockpot mashed potatoes or slow cooker cabbage round out a hands-off meal. For more ideas, browse our slow cooker vegetable recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put beans in the slow cooker? Yes. Canned beans are already cooked and are easy. Dry beans work too, with the safety note above for kidney beans.
Can I make this in the oven? Yes. Bake covered in a baking dish at about 350 degrees F until bubbly, usually 45 minutes to an hour, then uncover to thicken if needed.
What size slow cooker do I need? A 4 to 6 quart cooker fits this recipe.