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Judy John

Sweet BBQ Baked Beans Recipe

Sweet BBQ baked beans blend tender beans with a rich smoky sauce. They bake thick, glossy, and perfect for cookouts, picnics, or cozy dinners.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 18 servings
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 238
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beans
  • 4 15-oz cans navy beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
BBQ Sauce Mix
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup water if needed

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Dutch Oven
  • Baking Dish
  • Wooden Spoon
  • Measuring Cups
  • Oven
  • Freezer
  • Tray
  • Knife

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 325°F.
  2. Cook onion in a Dutch oven with a little oil until soft and fragrant.
  3. Stir in barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, vinegar, paprika, pepper, and water.
  4. Simmer 3 minutes until smooth and glossy.
  5. Add beans and fold gently until fully coated. Mixture should look loose before baking.
  6. Transfer to baking dish if needed. Cover and bake 45 minutes.
  7. Uncover and bake 20 to 25 minutes until thick with caramelized edges.
  8. Rest 10 minutes before serving so sauce settles.

Notes

For softer beans, bake covered longer with extra water. For crispier edges, uncover earlier and bake longer. Freeze cooled portions up to 2 months. Stir gently during assembly to keep beans whole. Add bacon, jalapeno, or maple syrup for flavor changes. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 5 days.