Name: Barbecued Baked Beans
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil or rapeseed (canola) oil; 500g (17oz.) Italian sausages; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 green bell pepper finely chopped; 5 cloves garlic, minced; 2 - 3 green finger chillies or other chillies (optional); 70ml (1/4 cup) whiskey (optional but good); 2 tbsp Cajun spice blend; 5 x 415g (14 oz) tinned (canned) baked beans; 500ml (2 cups) barbecue sauce; 1 tbsp whole grain mustard; 1 tbsp cider vinegar or to taste; 2 tsp chili powder or to taste; Salt and pepper to taste

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These barbecued baked beans are made with my special barbecue sauce. So good!

If you like barbecued baked beans, you are going to love this recipe. You don't actually have to cook them on your barbecue as it is the special sweet, savoury, spicy and sour barbecue sauce that makes them barbecued baked beans.

That said, you could cook them on your barbecue which will give the beans a delicious, smoky flavour.

About this recipe for barbecued baked beans

This is a recipe I have been playing with for decades. It was delicious way back when I started making it but it's even better now.

The trick is to get the barbecue sauce exactly as you like it. Once that is done, the rest is a breeze.

What are barbecued baked beans?

This is an American classic! Barbecued baked beans are a flavourful and hearty side dish made with baked beans that are enhanced with barbecue flavours. This dish is a popular addition to barbecue or outdoor picnic menus. The base of the dish is typically canned baked beans, to which a variety of ingredients are added to create a smoky, sweet, and savory flavour.

Liquid smoke is often added to give the beans a smoky flavour when not cooked outdoors over fire.

Can you work ahead?

No problem there! You can prepare these barbecued baked beans a few days ahead of serving. In fact, as they sit, covered in the fridge, the flavour will develop and they will be even better.

Do you have to make your own barbecue sauce and Cajun seasoning?

No but you will love it if you do. If you are limited for time or just don't want to make these key ingredients, purchase good quality commercial brands.

You will find my barbecue sauce recipe here and my Cajun seasoning recipe here.

How long can you keep the baked beans in the fridge?

These should keep for at least 4 days if not longer. Just cover them tightly and then heat up in a pan or your microwave when you are ready to serve.

Can you freeze this recipe?

Yes. These beans can be frozen for up to 3 months or even longer. Just let them defrost completely and then heat them up in a pan or in your microwave.

Step by step photographs

Ingredients for barbecued baked beans — Get all your ingredients together before starting. Before starting this recipe, you will first need to prepare the special barbecue sauce.

Frying the Italian sausages in a pan. — Remove the casings from the Italian sausages. Heat the oil in a pan over a medium-high heat and add the sausage meat.

Frying the sausages, onion and green pepper in the pan. — As you cook the meat, begin breaking it down with a spoon. Add the onion and green pepper and cook until the meat is crumbly and lightly caramelised.

Adding whiskey to the pan. — Pour in the whiskey and bring to a rolling simmer to cook out the alcohol.

Adding garlic and Cajun spice powder to the pan. — Stir in the garlic and add the Cajun spice powder. Stir well to combine.

Adding the remaining ingredients to the pot. — Now add the beans and barbecue sauce and bring it to a simmer. Simmer over a medium heat for about 10 minutes to let the flavours develop.

The finished barbecued baked beans. — You can add liquid smoke to taste or let the bean smoke on a barbecue if you like. Season with salt to taste.

Have you tried this barbecued baked beans recipe?

If you've tried this recipe, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and a comment. I love receiving feedback and I'm sure other readers of my blog do too. Thank you.

Yield: 10 - 12

Barbecued Baked Beans

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil or rapeseed (canola) oil
500g (17oz.) Italian sausages
1 onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 - 3 green finger chillies or other chillies (optional)
70ml (1/4 cup) whiskey (optional but good)
2 tbsp Cajun spice blend
5 x 415g (14 oz) tinned (canned) baked beans
500ml (2 cups) barbecue sauce
1 tbsp whole grain mustard
1 tbsp cider vinegar or to taste
2 tsp chili powder or to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat the oil over a medium-high heat in a saucepan. When hot, stir in the sausage meat and break it down in the pan. Add the chopped onion and green pepper and continue cooking until the meat has browned and is a bit caramelised and the onions and green peppers are soft.
Stir in the chopped garlic and chillies, if using and stir them in. Then pour in the whiskey and let it come to a simmer to cook out the alcohol. Stir in the cajun seasoning.
Add the beans and barbecue sauce and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering over a medium heat for about 10 minutes.
If you like, you could add liquid smoke for a smokier flavour or place the beans over indirect heat on your barbecue or smoker to give them a nice smoky flavour.
Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.