BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon (Skillet Baked Bean Casserole)

By Becky Hardin

Published Jun 3, 2019

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BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon are the ultimate summer side dish—sweet, savory, smoky, and packed with hearty flavor. For this upgraded version, I’ve taken this classic to the next level with seasoned ground beef, tender pork and beans, and a rich, tangy barbecue sauce, all topped with crispy bacon for the ultimate finishing touch. I love pairing this recipe with all my favorite summer BBQ mains.

The Best BBQ Baked Beans

Baked beans are a staple at all my summer BBQs, and this BBQ baked beans casserole is my favorite. It’s got so much more flavor than what you get from a can. I take ground beef, add barbecue sauce, pork and beans, a few seasonings, and then bake it with crispy bacon on top. It’s my take on a summertime classic, and believe me, it’s delicious.

This baked bean casserole makes an appearance whenever we’re having guests, whether it be a casual get-together or a holiday celebration. This recipe only requires a few minutes of prep, and then it bakes for about an hour, so I can tend to the other recipes on my list.

Tips for Beginners

• Don’t cook the bacon too long. You want it cooked through but not too crisp, as it will continue to crisp up in the oven.
• Discard any excess fat from the beef. I kept about 2 tablespoons in the pan to cook the veggies. If you keep too much, your casserole may end up greasy.
• Let the beans rest after cooking. This allows the sauce to thicken, which will make it easier to serve.

Recipe Card

BBQ Baked Beans With Bacon

Difficulty: Easy

4.82 from 11 votes

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 10

Author: Becky Hardin

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These delicious BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon are simple and go with all your favorite BBQ foods.

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 8 slices bacon cut into ¼-inch slices
• ▢ 1¼ lb. ground chuck
• ▢ 1 medium yellow onion diced
• ▢ 1 bell pepper cored and diced
• ▢ 48-52 oz. pork and beans fat pieces discarded
• ▢ ½ cup barbecue sauce
• ▢ ½ cup ketchup
• ▢ 2 tbsp country mustard
• ▢ 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• ▢ 2 tbsp cider vinegar
• ▢ 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
• ▢ kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste

Video

Instructions 

• Heat oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
• Cook the bacon (until soft but cooked through) in a large saucepan. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and add the ground chuck to the pan with the bacon fat. Cook the beef until brown and drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of rendered fat. Set the meat aside until ready to use.
  8 slices bacon, 1¼ lb. ground chuck
• Add the onion and bell pepper to the rendered fat. Cook 3 minutes or until the vegetables have softened. Add the beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire Sauce, cider vinegar, and brown sugar; stir well. Add the ground beef back to the pan. Taste and season with salt and black pepper; stir to incorporate.
  1 medium yellow onion, 1 bell pepper, 48-52 oz. pork and beans, ½ cup barbecue sauce, ½ cup ketchup, 2 tbsp country mustard, 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 2 tbsp cider vinegar, 2 tbsp dark brown sugar, kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• Pour the bean mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the bacon on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake an additional 25-30 minutes or until thickened.
• Remove from the oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Equipment

• Cast Iron Skillet

Becky’s Tips

• Cook the bacon until just done, as it will crisp up in the oven.
• Keep about 2 tablespoons of fat in the pan; any more and you may end up with greasy beans. 
• Let the beans sit after cooking as the sauce will thicken, making it easier to serve.
• Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Serving: 1servingCalories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 20gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 1009mgPotassium: 748mgFiber: 8gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 475IUVitamin C: 19.7mgCalcium: 97mgIron: 3.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Make BBQ Baked Beans With Bacon Step by Step

Get the oven going, prepare a baking dish, and cook the bacon and chuck: Heat the oven to 350°F, spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray, and cook 8 slices of bacon in a large saucepan. Place the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined plate and add 1¼ lb. ground chuck to the pan. Cook until brown and drain. Keep 2 tablespoons of rendered fat in the pan. Set the meat aside until ready to use.

Cook the veggies, add the remaining ingredients, and return the ground chuck: Add 1 medium onion and 1 bell pepper to the rendered fat and cook for 3 minutes or until softened. Add 48-52 oz. of beans, ½ cup barbecue sauce, ½ cup ketchup, 2 tbsp country mustard, 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 2 tbsp cider vinegar, and 2 tbsp dark brown sugar. Stir the ground beef back into the pan and season with kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients.

Transfer and bake the bean mixture: Pour the beans into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the bacon over the top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes, and then remove the foil and bake an additional 25-30 minutes or until thickened.

Serve: Take the beans out of the oven and let them rest for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

How to Store

Store leftover beans in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.

Reheat

Reheat over the stove or in the microwave until heated through.

Freeze

Freeze this BBQ baked beans casserole by transferring it to freezer-safe containers or bags and freezing for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

BBQ Baked Beans are one of my favorite summer side dishes. I love pairing them with all my favorite BBQ foods, like BBQ burgers or grilled hot dogs. I’ll even serve them with fancier dishes like grilled flank steak with cilantro lime butter. This hearty bean casserole is perfect for backyard BBQs, celebrating the 4th of July, or anytime I’m feeding a crowd.

More Casserole Recipes To Try

• This Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole is creamy, rich, and ideal to make ahead of time.
• Creamy Ham and Potato Casserole features layers of tender potatoes, savory ham, and creamy Béchamel sauce.
• This Cheeseburger Casserole has all my favorites: ground beef, macaroni, tomato paste, and tons of cheese.

more summer side recipes

Mexican Corn on the Cob (Mexican Grilled Corn)

Peruvian Chopped Salad Recipe

Instant Pot Potato Salad with Dill Pickles

Grilled Peach Salad