Slow-cooked, sweet, and savory baked beans with brown sugar and bacon are a side dish recipe that’s pure perfection! These easy Crock Pot Baked Beans will be a hit for any cookout, barbecue, or summer party.
If you love easy make-ahead recipes, you must try my Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs and Easy Oven Fried Chicken.
Want to know my secret for making amazing slow-cooked baked beans? I start with canned beans. Yep. This shortcut, along with just the right combination of simple ingredients, takes this recipe to a whole new level, and people go crazy for them!
These Homemade Slow-Cooked Baked Beans Are:
- Tender and full of amazing flavor from brown sugar and bacon, with just the right amount of seasoning.
- Slow-cooked in the Crock Pot, your kitchen is cool during the hot summer months.
- Easy to prep since everything is loaded into the Crock Pot, stirred, and then cooked.
- This comfort food classic is great for feeding a crowd because it’s easy to double.
- These saucy baked beans are perfect for any summer holiday party, family cookout, or covered dish supper. But why stop there? They are also great for game day or tailgating.
How Long Do Baked Beans Cook In The Slow Cooker?
You can use 2 temps and cooking times for this recipe:
- LOW – 5-6 hours
- HIGH – 3-4 hours
What You Need To Make Baked Beans In The Crock Pot
- Canned Baked Beans – I use Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans
- BBQ Sauce – use your favorite brand. I like Sweet Baby Ray’s Original
- Chopped Onion
- Ketchup
- Yellow Mustard
- Brown Sugar
- Honey
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Crispy Cooked Bacon
Variations And Additions
- Make it vegetarian by leaving out the bacon.
- Want more heat? Add cayenne, red pepper flakes, or chipotle seasoning for an extra kick. You can all use Candied Jalapenos.
- Bump up the veggies with diced red and green peppers.
- Add turkey bacon, cooked ground sausage, or beef to turn it into a main dish.
How To Make Baked Beans In A Crock Pot
- Add beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, sugar, honey, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chopped onion, chopped bacon, and garlic powder to the bowl of a slow cooker. Stir to combine, then cover the slow cooker with the lid.
- Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- When done, stir and sprinkle on additional cooked chopped bacon if desired. Serve hot.
Can Pork And Beans Be Used Instead Of Canned Baked Beans?
Yep, absolutely. You will need to alter the recipe just a bit, though. Since the pork and beans do not have any added sugar, you’ll need to increase the amount of brown sugar to ½ cup and the honey to 3 tablespoons.
Tips For Storing And Freezing
For leftovers, store them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
Crock Pot Baked Beans is also a great recipe to make ahead and freeze. After making the recipes, let the beans cool, then place them in a freezer-safe container. The baked beans can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator, then warm in the crock pot or on the stovetop.
Slow Cooker Baked Bean Questions, Answered
You’ve got two options: LOW for 5 to 6 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. I usually go with the low-and-slow method — that extra time lets all those flavors from the brown sugar, bacon, and BBQ sauce really come together beautifully.
That’s actually my secret! I start with canned beans — Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans are my go-to. It saves so much time and the slow cooker takes them to a whole new level with just the right combination of simple ingredients. Nobody ever guesses the shortcut.
Absolutely — these are one of my favorite make-ahead dishes. Make them the day before, let them cool, and store them covered in the refrigerator. Reheat on LOW in the crock pot or on the stovetop over medium-low heat. They’re actually even better the next day once the flavors have had more time to develop.
Yes! Let them cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop. They’re a great one to keep in the freezer for a quick side dish when you need it most.
What To Serve With Homemade Crock Pot Baked Beans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 28 ounce cans baked beans (do not drain)
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ½ cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 5 slices bacon – chopped (I used my precooked bacon but you can use uncooked just cut into small pieces)
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
Instructions
- To the bowl of a slow cooker, add beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, sugar, honey, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chopped onion, chopped bacon, and garlic powder. Stir to combine, then place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- When done, stir, and sprinkle on additional cooked chopped bacon if desired. Serve hot.
Nutrition
Want To Know More About Slow Cooking?
If you are new to cooking with a Crock Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using a slow cooker like a pro!
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The beans are so delicious! Doubled the recipe andI took them to a neighborhood cookout and everyone loved them! The only problem was they didn’t seem to cook down a lot and there was too much liquid left when they were done. Did I do something wrong? I did add some cornstarch mixed with a little water a couple of times at the end when the cooking time was up and that helped.
Any other suggestions? I will definitely make again! They were a hit!!
Thank you…they were sooooo good.
Thanks for the terrific rating!
~Donya
Made this for a cook out.
Everyone loved the dish . I will make this dish again.
Awesome! Thanks for the outstanding rating.
~Donya
A friend asked me to bring baked beans to cookout. Am not a big fan of baked beans. Checked around and found this recipe. Sounded great along with reviews. Big plus was crock pot. Recipe easy and many compliments! Will definitely make this again!
This makes me so happy! Thank you for the terrific rating.
~Donya
Super easy to make haven’t tried still cooking
What size crock pot was used to make these Beans?
6 quart
My husband loved these..he kept sneaking spoonfuls..I had to scold him we were taking them to my son’s for a cookout everyone loved them..I’m making some for just for my husband today..thanks
Haha! That has happened here before. I’m thrilled you liked the recipe and thank you for the outstanding rating.
~Donya
OMG these baked beans are DELICIOUS !!!!! I just made them & the smell drove us crazy while they were cooking in the crock pot ! Took 5 minutes to throw together. DELICIOUS !!! *****
Thank you, Luana! You’ve made my day. I really appreciate the outstanding rating as well.
Have a great day,
~Donya
Oh yum this recipe is great even smells good while cooking I love your recipes i’m 89 years old so i’m using the crock pot more sending you a big hug
Hey there Dolores!
My goodness, reading your comment has made my day, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe and my other Crock Pot recipes! I completely agree with you, the Crock Pot works like magic, it gives you all those fantastic slow cooked flavors without having to worry about babysitting the oven. If you enjoyed this recipe, you should check out my Crock Pot Chicken Thighs, they make a phenomenal main dish for any occasion! Thank you so much for your kind words of support, if you ever have any questions about a dish I’d be more than happy to help!
~Donya
We always take these to the neighborhood festivals. We always take home an empty crock! We always use a crock liner so clean-up is a breeze. I also use the bacon cooked.
This recipe is perfect for neighborhood parties, I agree! Thank you for following and for your great rating!! You’ve made my day.
Have a wonderful summer,
~Donya