Looking for the ultimate barbecue baked beans recipe that’ll steal the show at your next cookout? This Moe’s BBQ baked beans recipe delivers incredible flavor with minimal effort, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want maximum impact.
This one-pot wonder transforms simple Bush’s Original baked beans into a smoky, sweet, and savory masterpiece that pairs beautifully with grilled meats, potato salad, and classic barbecue sides. The secret lies in the perfect balance of molasses, brown sugar, and crispy bacon.
What makes this recipe truly special is its simplicity – everything goes into one cast iron skillet or Dutch oven, then straight into the oven for hands-off cooking that delivers restaurant-quality results every time.
What Does Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans Recipe Taste Like?
These BBQ baked beans offer the perfect harmony of sweet and smoky flavors that define authentic Southern barbecue. The molasses adds deep, rich sweetness while the brown sugar creates beautiful caramelization during baking. Each spoonful delivers complex layers of flavor that develop beautifully in the oven.
The bacon provides essential smokiness and savory depth, while the garlic and onions add aromatic complexity that elevates the dish beyond ordinary baked beans. The mustard might seem unexpected, but it adds a subtle tangy brightness that balances the sweetness perfectly.
The texture is thick and hearty, with tender beans that hold their shape while absorbing all the incredible flavors. The sauce becomes gloriously sticky and caramelized, coating every bean with that signature barbecue richness that makes these beans absolutely irresistible.
Ingredients Required for Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans Recipe
Here’s the list of Ingredients you’ll need to make this Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans
- 2 cans Bush’s Original Baked Beans (drained, reserve top layer only)
- 4-6 strips thick-cut bacon, chopped
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Kitchen Utensil You’ll Need
- Cast iron skillet or Dutch oven
- Cutting board and knife
- Paper towels
- Mixing spoon
- Small bowl
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Serves: 5-6 people
How to Make Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans
Simply follow the steps given below to make your Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans Recipe at home
1. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Let bacon come to room temperature for easier chopping.
2. Cook the Bacon: Heat your cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until slightly crispy but still tender, about 5-7 minutes. Don’t overcook as it will continue cooking in the oven.
3. Drain Carefully: Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined bowl. Drain excess fat from skillet, leaving just the browned bits and a thin layer of fat for flavor.
4. Add Beans: Drain the top liquid layer from your baked beans only, then add beans to the skillet with the bacon drippings.
5. Layer the Flavors: Add all remaining ingredients directly to the skillet: diced onion, minced garlic, brown sugar, molasses, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Return the cooked bacon to the mixture.
6. Mix and Season: Stir everything together until well combined. The mixture should be thick but not dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Bake: Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, uncovered. The top should be slightly caramelized and the sauce thickened.
8. Rest and Serve: Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and sauce to thicken further.
Some Tasty Ways To Customize and Serve This Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans Recipe
Over the years of making these beans for family gatherings and backyard cookouts, we’ve discovered some incredible pairing combinations that’ll take your meal to the next level. Here are our tried-and-true favorites:
1. Classic BBQ Plate
We always serve these alongside pulled pork and creamy Raising Cane’s Coleslaw. The sweet beans balance the smoky meat perfectly, while the coleslaw adds that refreshing crunch. It’s the holy trinity of barbecue sides that never fails to impress our guests.
2. Loaded Potato Bar
One of our favorite discoveries was spooning these beans over baked potatoes with shredded cheese and sour cream. The combination creates this hearty, comfort-food masterpiece that’s become a regular weeknight dinner in our house.
3. Cornbread and Beans
There’s something magical about dipping warm, buttery cornbread into these rich, molasses-sweet beans. We’ve served this combination at countless potlucks, and it always gets rave reviews from both kids and adults.
4. Grilled Chicken Perfection
These beans are phenomenal with simple grilled chicken thighs. The sweetness complements the char from the grill, and we often add a side of grilled corn for the ultimate summer meal that never gets old.
5. Hot Dog Heaven
Transform ordinary hot dogs into gourmet fare by serving them over a bed of these beans with diced onions and mustard. It’s comfort food at its finest, and our kids absolutely love this twist on the classic.
6. Breakfast Bean Bowl
We stumbled upon this combination by accident, but now it’s a weekend favorite. Serve these beans with scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, and toast for a hearty breakfast that keeps everyone satisfied until dinner.
7. Chili Mac Upgrade
Mix these beans into your favorite chili mac recipe for added sweetness and depth. The molasses flavor creates this incredible complexity that transforms a simple weeknight meal into something special.
8. Burger Bar Essential
At our backyard burger parties, these beans are always the first side dish to disappear. They pair beautifully with beef burgers, turkey burgers, and even veggie burgers, adding that perfect sweet and smoky element.
9. Fish Fry Companion
Surprisingly, these beans are incredible with fried catfish or salmon. The sweet, rich flavors balance the crispy, seasoned fish perfectly. Add some hush puppies and you’ve got a Southern feast that’ll make everyone ask for seconds.
10. Taco Tuesday Twist
We love using these beans as a base for loaded nachos or as a side for taco night. The sweetness pairs unexpectedly well with spicy Mexican flavors, creating this fusion that our family can’t get enough of.
Some Tips on This Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans Recipe
10 Easy Tips for Perfect BBQ Baked Beans
1. Use the Right Beans
Get Bush’s Original beans only. Don’t buy the BBQ kind. We will make our own BBQ taste!
2. Don’t Drain All the Bean Juice
Only pour off the watery part on top. Keep the thick part at the bottom. This makes your beans taste better.
3. Let Your Bacon Get to Room Temp
Take bacon out of the fridge 10 minutes before cooking. Cold bacon is hard to cut. Room temp bacon cuts easy.
4. Don’t Cook Bacon Too Much
Cook bacon until it’s a little crispy but still soft. It will cook more in the oven. Too crispy bacon gets hard and burnt.
5. Keep Some Bacon Fat
Don’t wipe out all the bacon grease from your pan. Leave a little bit. This gives your beans more flavor.
6. Mix Everything in the Same Pan
Use the same pan you cooked bacon in. Add all your stuff right to this pan. Less dishes to wash!
7. Taste Before You Bake
Try a small spoon of your mix before it goes in the oven. Need more sweet? Add brown sugar. Need more tang? Add mustard.
8. Don’t Cover the Pan
Bake your beans with no lid. This makes the top get brown and thick. A lid makes them watery.
9. Let Them Rest
When beans come out of the oven, wait 5 minutes before eating. They are very hot and need to cool down a bit.
10. Double It for a Crowd
Making food for lots of people? Use two cans of beans and double everything else. Same cooking time. More happy people!
How to Store and Reheat Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans
Store leftover BBQ baked beans in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, or warm gently on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of water if needed to prevent sticking.
Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cans Bush’s Original Baked Beans drained, reserve top layer only
- 4-6 strips thick-cut bacon chopped
- ½ medium onion diced
- 2-3 cloves fresh garlic minced
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Let bacon come to room temperature for easier chopping.
- Cook the Bacon: Heat your cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until slightly crispy but still tender, about 5-7 minutes. Don’t overcook as it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Drain Carefully: Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined bowl. Drain excess fat from skillet, leaving just the browned bits and a thin layer of fat for flavor.
- Add Beans: Drain the top liquid layer from your baked beans only, then add beans to the skillet with the bacon drippings.
- Layer the Flavors: Add all remaining ingredients directly to the skillet: diced onion, minced garlic, brown sugar, molasses, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Return the cooked bacon to the mixture.
- Mix and Season: Stir everything together until well combined. The mixture should be thick but not dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake: Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, uncovered. The top should be slightly caramelized and the sauce thickened.
- Rest and Serve: Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and sauce to thicken further.
Video
Notes
Common Queries on This Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans Recipe
Here, we’ve got you covered with some common questions about the Moe’s BBQ Baked Beans Recipe that people often ask.
1. Why do you specifically recommend Bush’s Original baked beans over other flavors?
From our experience, Bush’s Original provides the perfect neutral base that allows you to build your own flavor profile. We’ve tried their barbecue and other flavored varieties, but they compete with the molasses and spices we’re adding. The original beans absorb the seasonings better and give you complete control over the final taste.
2. Can I use turkey bacon or beef bacon instead of regular pork bacon?
Absolutely! We’ve made this recipe with both turkey and beef bacon with great results. Beef bacon actually gives an even richer, smokier flavor that we love. Turkey bacon works well too, though you might want to add a tiny bit more Worcestershire sauce to boost the umami flavor that pork bacon naturally provides.
3. Should I drain all the liquid from the canned beans?
No, and this is crucial! We only drain the top layer of liquid. The remaining bean liquid contains starch and flavor that helps thicken the sauce as it bakes. When we’ve drained everything completely in the past, the beans turned out too dry and didn’t have that perfect saucy consistency.
4. Can I make this recipe in a slow cooker instead of the oven?
Yes, we’ve adapted this for slow cookers many times! Cook the bacon first in a skillet, then transfer everything to your slow cooker on low for 3-4 hours or high for 1.5-2 hours. Just keep the lid slightly cracked during the last hour to help the sauce thicken properly.
5. How can I make these beans less sweet for my family’s taste?
We’ve adjusted this recipe for less sweet-tooth families by reducing the brown sugar to 2 tablespoons and using only 1.5 tablespoons of molasses. You can also add an extra teaspoon of mustard and a splash more Worcestershire sauce to balance the sweetness with tangy and savory notes.
6. Can I prep these beans ahead of time for a party?
Definitely! We often make these a day ahead. Prepare everything up to step 6, then cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, bring to room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake as directed. You might need an extra 10-15 minutes in the oven since they’re starting cold.
7. Why does the recipe call for yellow mustard instead of Dijon or spicy brown?
Through lots of testing, we’ve found that yellow mustard gives the perfect tangy brightness without overpowering the other flavors. Dijon can be too sharp and spicy brown adds grittiness that changes the smooth texture. Yellow mustard dissolves beautifully and adds that classic barbecue flavor profile.
8. What’s the best way to get extra smoky flavor if I don’t have a grill?
We love adding a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the mixture, or using smoked paprika (about 1/2 teaspoon). Sometimes we’ll char the onions slightly in the cast iron before adding the other ingredients. For the ultimate smoky flavor, we finish the last 15 minutes of baking on a grill with the lid closed.
9. Can I double this recipe for a large crowd?
Yes! We regularly double or even triple this recipe for big gatherings. Use a larger Dutch oven or two separate pans. The cooking time stays the same, but check at 45 minutes as larger batches sometimes finish a bit faster. One double batch easily feeds 10-12 people as a side dish.
10. How do I know when the beans are perfectly done?
The beans are ready when the top has a slight caramelized look and the sauce has thickened to coat the back of a spoon. We always do the “spoon test” – if the sauce runs off quickly, give them another 10-15 minutes. The beans should be bubbling gently around the edges and the surface shouldn’t look wet or watery.
This Moe’s BBQ baked beans recipe transforms ordinary canned beans into an extraordinary barbecue masterpiece with minimal effort. The perfect balance of sweet molasses, smoky bacon, and savory seasonings creates a side dish that consistently steals the spotlight at every gathering. What makes this recipe special is its foolproof simplicity – just one pot, basic ingredients, and an hour in the oven delivers restaurant-quality results.
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