Why You Will Love These BBQ Baked Beans
You are going to love this BBQ Baked Beans recipe because it uses simple ingredients that almost everyone already has sitting in their kitchen. It’s one of those effortless, “dump and go” skillet recipes that turns out absolutely delicious every single time. It is the perfect side dish for summer cookouts, and trust me, your guests won’t be able to stop eating it!
Ingredients for BBQ Baked Beans
- Ground beef: Adds a rich, hearty texture that turns these baked beans into a total crowd-pleaser.
- Original Bush’s Baked Beans: The perfect, reliable base for our skillet bake.
- Bell pepper & yellow onion: Half a green or red bell pepper and a large onion provide a fresh, savory crunch.
- Head Country BBQ Sauce: A half-cup of this sauce brings that authentic, smoky flavor. And yes, it has to be Head Country! If you read my other recipes, you know it’s an absolute staple in my family. Some dishes just don’t taste the same without it.
- Worcestershire sauce & mustard: Combined to add a sharp, tangy, and savory zip that cuts through the sweetness.
- Brown sugar: Adds a rich, molasses sweetness to help carmelize the top layer in the oven.
- Seasonings: A heavy-hitting blend of Lawry’s Seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes for a subtle hint of background warmth.
How to Make BBQ Baked Beans
Get your oven preheating to 400°F. Start by drizzling a little oil in your pan. You don’t have to use a cast iron skillet for this recipe, but baby I’m telling you, there is just something about cast iron that makes everything taste that much better! Toss your diced bell peppers and onions into the hot skillet and sauté them until they just begin to soften up. Next, crumble in your ground beef. Season the meat right in the pan with your garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and Lawry’s.
Let the ground beef cook down completely until it is nice and browned. Once it’s fully cooked, carefully drain any excess oil from the pan so your beans don’t turn out greasy. Now, pour in the entire can of Bush’s baked beans and stir until everything is well combined. Pour in your Head Country BBQ sauce, followed by the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Give it all one more good mix until the sauce is completely uniform, then pop the whole skillet right into the oven. Bake for 15 minutes until the edges are bubbling and the top has a gorgeous glaze. Remove it from the oven and serve it up hot!
Tips for the Best BBQ Baked Beans
- Go with Cast Iron: If you have one, use it! The cast iron retains heat beautifully, which helps caramelize the brown sugar and barbecue sauce around the edges of the pan while it bakes.
- Control the Heat: The single teaspoon of red pepper flakes adds a beautiful balance to the sweet brown sugar without making it overly spicy. If you are cooking for little ones, you can easily cut it back or leave it out completely.
Variations & Substitutions
- If you don’t have ground beef on hand, chopped crispy bacon or sliced smoked sausage make an incredible substitute.
- I know this sounds crazy, but add a half-cup of fresh pineapple chunks into the beans. My aunt does this and it’s the most delicious thing ever! It sounds like it shouldn’t work but oh baby it does!
Other Recipes You Will Love
If you loved this BBQ Baked Beans recipe, you’re going to LOVE my other cookout must-haves! Check out the full list here:
Hey Foodie! Want more recipes like this? Subscribe to Ne’s Kitchen Newsletter!
BBQ Baked Beans
Description
A smoky, sweet, and savory BBQ Baked Beans recipe loaded with browned ground beef, peppers, onions, and iconic Head Country BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Drizzle a tablespoon of oil into a large skillet (cast iron preferred) over medium-high heat.
-
Sauté the diced bell peppers and yellow onions until they begin to soften and turn translucent.
-
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Season the meat evenly with the garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and Lawry’s seasoning. Sauté until fully browned, then carefully drain away any excess grease.
-
Pour the whole can of baked beans directly into the skillet with the beef, stirring until completely combined.
-
Add the Head Country BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, and brown sugar to the pan. Mix thoroughly until the sauce is smooth and completely integrated.
-
Transfer the skillet directly into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes until the sauce is thick, rich, and bubbling around the edges. Serve hot!
Nutrition Facts
Servings 7
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 380kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 14g22%
- Saturated Fat 5g25%
- Cholesterol 55mg19%
- Sodium 910mg38%
- Total Carbohydrate 42g15%
- Dietary Fiber 6g24%
- Sugars 26g
- Protein 22g44%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
