Name: Classic BBQ Baked Beans
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: ¼ pound thick-cut bacon, diced; ½ large onion, chopped; 1 red bell pepper, chopped; 3 16-ounce cans kidney beans; ½ cup brown sugar; 3 tablespoons ketchup; 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 3 tablespoons maple syrup; 3 tablespoons molasses; 3 tablespoons yellow mustard; 1 tablespoon hot sauce; 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning

Photo of baked beans in a cast iron casserole dish.

Photo by Paul Petrowsky

No cookout in the South is complete without baked beans. This is a simple recipe that combines sweet and smoky ingredients for a thick, rich, and perfect side dish.

Recipe information

Yield
Serves 6

Ingredients

¼ pound thick-cut bacon, diced

½ large onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

3 16-ounce cans kidney beans

½ cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons ketchup

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons maple syrup

3 tablespoons molasses

3 tablespoons yellow mustard

1 tablespoon hot sauce

2 teaspoons Creole seasoning

Preparation

Step 1
Preheat grill to high. Place a large Dutch oven or cast-iron pot over direct heat and cook bacon until fat has begun to render. Add onion and red pepper and cook until they begin to soften, about 3-5 minutes. Add the beans, including canning liquid, and bring to a simmer.
Step 2
Add brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, molasses, mustard, hot sauce, and Creole seasoning and stir to combine. Close the lid and cook the beans until the liquid has thickened, about 60 minutes. Cover the pot and move to the cooler side of the grill, then cook for another 20-30 minutes or until desired tenderness.

cover photo of The Big Hurt's Guide to BBQ and Grilling

Excerpted from The Big Hurt's Guide to BBQ and Grilling: Recipes From My Backyard to Yours Copyright 2016 by Frank Thomas. Published by Triumph Books LLC. All rights reserved. Buy the full book from Barnes & Noble.