Bourbon Baked Beans are the perfect accompaniment to your favorite summer meals. A delicious medley of sweet, smoky and savory flavors, they’re sure to be hit at any cookout!
Guys, we’re just a month away from summer, and I can’t be more excited! I may be dreading the hot weather about to come, but I sure am looking forward to the backyard BBQ’s that’s sure to happen.
We love firing up the pit during warmer months and like switching things up from a full-on Mexican feast of pollo asado, Spanish rice, and charro beans to Korean-inspired grill fest complete with Kalbi, steamed rice, and banchan. But I have to say, nothing beats the mouthwatering combo of thick, juicy burgers, creamy potato salad, and hearty baked beans.
Bourbon baked beans are pretty much the only way we like to enjoy baked beans at home. With the addition of bacon, Bourbon, brown sugar, pineapple, and seasonings, your regular canned baked beans turn into something short of magical.
They’re sweet, smoky, savory, and the ultimate accompaniment for summer cookouts or just about any time you crave a hearty side dish.
What Beans to Use for Baked Beans:
While other types of beans such as pinto, kidney or garbanzo can also be used, baked beans are more commonly made of white beans such as Navy or Great Northern beans.
Tips On How to Make Bourbon Baked Beans:
- To keep the beans from falling apart, keep stirring to a minimum. Use a thick bottomed dutch oven and cook at a gentle simmer to prevent burning.
- Coffee might sound like a weird ingredient to add to stewed beans but don’t omit as it helps to brighten and deepen flavors.
I like to throw the baked beans in the oven for a good half hour as I love the pop of color and extra flavor brought on by the roasted pineapples, but you can certainly skip that if you’re not a big fan of the fruit. Just continue to cook stovetop until the beans are nice and thick and they’ll be just as amazing.
If you want almost zero work, you can also make the baked beans in a slow cooker by following the easy directions below.
How to Make Crock Pot Baked Beans
- In a pan over medium heat, add chopped bacon and cook until it begins to render fat. Add onions and cook until softened. Drain excess fat.
- In a crockpot, combine bourbon, barbecue sauce, brewed coffee, brown sugar, spicy mustard, and ground ginger. Stir until well-blended.
- Add canned baked beans and bacon-onion mixture. Stir until combined.
- Cover with lid and cook on HIGH for about 4 to 5 hours or on LOW for about 6 to 7 hours.
- Add pineapple slices and continue to cook uncovered on HIGH for about 30 to 45 minutes or on LOW for about 1 hour until thickened.
Make sure to bookmark this baked beans recipe for your next cookout; they’re sure to be a hit with the crowd. Serve with loaded potato salad, coleslaw slaw and buffalo burgers for the perfect summer feast.
Bourbon Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 small onion, peeled and chopped
- 4 cans (16 ounces each) baked beans
- 1/2 cup Bourbon
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 5 pieces sliced pineapples
Instructions
- In a dutch oven over medium heat, add bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 to 5 minutes or until it begins to render fat and brown.
- Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are limp and bacon is crisp. Drain excess fat.
- Add baked beans, Bourbon, barbecue sauce, brewed coffee, brown sugar, spicy brown mustard, and ground ginger. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through and thickened.
- Transfer to a cast iron skillet or baking dish and arrange sliced pineapples on top.
- Bake, uncovered, in a 350 F oven for about 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned. Serve hot.
Nutrition
Did ANYONE rate this recipe AFTER preparing it??? It sure looks good, but the proof is in the tasting.
WOw these look delicious! I bet my whole family would enjoy these!
I am sure they would 🙂
This looks and sounds amazing … i can hardly wait to smell and taste it too!! Thanks so much for this recipe
You are welcome, Bruce! I hope you enjoy it!
These sound amazing and what cool way to serve them. I have never thought about adding pineapple but it sounds like the perfect addition:)
Thanks, Andrea!The pineapples add notes of freshness and sweetness.
a beans lover, have not had it this way but it sure looks good and healthy. good food comes differently and sure this is one. thanks for the insight to this.
Thank you! I hope you give this a try 🙂
Oh yum, I’d love these. Baked beans are some of my favorite sides. These sound scrumptious!
You will surely love this, Amber!
Oh my goodness! These looks amazing! I love making baked beans a little more special when we have people over for a cook out.
Thanks,Merry! This always gets the thumbs up!
I love how you put the nutritional fact there! Makes people aware of what they are actually eating! 🙂
Aaron | aarongonetravelling.com
Yes, a lot of readers find the information helpful. Thanks, Aaron 🙂
You are so awesome for giving us this recipe. Thanks for that.
You are welcome! It is my joy!
This looks absolutely delicious. My husband loves baked beans. I am going to have to try this recipe.
Thanks! I hope you and your husband enjoy it!
Thank you for the recipe and post. The photos look amazing. Will try to make it soon! Shall check your blog on a regular basis for cooking ideas.
Thanks a lot! I hope you find recipes that you can make for your family!
Yum! I LOVE baked beans! Whenever I visit my sister in Austin I always order a lot of “fixins'” which includes a big side of baked beans 🙂
Gennifer Rose | http://www.GenniferRose.com
Can’t go wrong with a heaping serving of beans!
Now this is baked beans with a fancy twist. I will try this recipe though without bacon and bourbon.
Less rich but I am sure it will still be delicious 🙂
Great combination! Will certainly try!
Thanks, Aditi 🙂
Ok, you just did it with the beans! I will DEF be trying this this weekend. Pinapples in baked beans! Who would’ve thunk?!?
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You’ll love the delicious combination 🙂
Those look delicious!
Thank you 🙂
this looks mouth-watering! I am terrible in the kitchen but I am determined to improve and this is something I would love to try!
This is such an easy recipe, I am sure you’ll have it ready without a hitch 🙂
I love that you used pineapples with your Bourbon Baked Beans recipe! I have never tried pineapples with baked beans before. I love pineapples and baked beans so I bet the two combined together are very good!
You bet, Jennifer. Thanks!
It definitely sounds as challenging mix of tastes, since there is pineapple and coffee with the beans, but since I am an adventurous type I’ll try it for sure!
Thanks, Daniela. The flavors are so good together in this dish!
My grandmother used to cook her beans like this! I had forgotten all about it before this blog. Wow, what a blast of loveable nostalgia (packs up to run to the store).
Aren’t food memories the best? I hope this recipe comes close to what your grandmother makes 🙂
Never cooked beans with pineapple before, looks interesting
You should try this, Priti! 🙂
In South Africa we have “braai’s” and not BBQ’s – that being said, this looks like the perfect side dish to accompany any braai. Will surely give it a try!
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Thanks, Nicola! I hope you enjoy this!
Pineapple with beans is an interesting combination. I’ve never tried it before.
You should give this a go, Odette! 🙂