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Loaded Smoked Baked Beans Recipe with Brown Sugar Bacon and Jalapeño Perfect for BBQs

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A bold, smoky, sweet, and spicy baked beans recipe featuring caramelized brown sugar bacon and fresh jalapeño, perfect as a crowd-pleasing BBQ side.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) baked beans (preferably Bush’s Original)
  • 8 slices thick-cut brown sugar bacon
  • 1/4 cup (50 g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 large jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (leave seeds in for more heat)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder (optional)
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) water or beer to thin sauce if needed

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lay brown sugar bacon slices on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until caramelized and crispy. Let cool and chop into bite-sized pieces. Alternatively, pan-fry bacon over medium heat until crisp and drain on paper towels.
  2. While bacon cooks, finely dice onion, mince garlic, and chop jalapeño (remove seeds for less heat).
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onion in a splash of oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeño and cook for 2 more minutes until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
  4. In a large bowl, combine baked beans, sautéed mixture, chopped bacon, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, mustard powder, black pepper, and salt. Stir well. Add water or beer if mixture is too thick.
  5. Pour mixture into a heavy-duty aluminum foil pan or covered Dutch oven suitable for smoker or grill.
  6. Preheat smoker or grill for indirect heat at 225°F (107°C). Add wood chips for smoke. Place beans inside and smoke for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring halfway through until sauce thickens and smoke flavor infuses.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add more brown sugar for sweetness or fresh jalapeño/hot sauce for heat.
  8. Serve warm, straight from the smoker, alongside BBQ staples.

Notes

Use thick-cut brown sugar bacon for best caramelized texture. Stir beans halfway through smoking to prevent burning and ensure even smoke infusion. If beans dry out, add a splash of water or broth. Let beans rest 10-15 minutes after smoking to thicken sauce. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and add 1 tsp liquid smoke. For no smoker, use grill with soaked wood chips or bake with liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: smoked baked beans, BBQ side dish, brown sugar bacon, jalapeño, smoked paprika, potluck recipe, smoky beans, baked beans recipe

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/loaded-smoked-baked-beans-recipe-with-brown-sugar-bacon-and-jalape-n-o-perfect-for-bbqs/