Spicy Baked Beans with Bacon

Spicy Baked Beans with Bacon are a fun twist on the classic barbecue side dish. Make these baked beans in the oven for any type of gathering! Makes 4 servings, but can easily be doubled.

Love baked beans with a classic backyard barbecue? You’ve got to pair ’em with Instant Pot BBQ Brisket and Oven Fried Okra!

I’m a Memphis girl, and I love me some barbecue, as well as all the “traditional” barbecue sides that come with it, like baked beans and coleslaw. Pair ’em with Memphis Style Ribs (Dry Rub Oven Baked Ribs Recipe), and I’m a happy girl.

Since moving to Texas, the land of beef barbecue, I’ve learned about some new barbecue sides. They’re all delicious, and I certainly won’t complain when served fried okra or macaroni and cheese with my barbecue… but I like what I grew up with.

And whenever I think about making barbecue at home, I gravitate to those sides from my past.

Why I love this recipe:

These baked beans in the oven pack in a ton of flavor—they’ve got spice from Bloody Mary Mix and sriracha sauce. They’ve got some smoke from the bacon. And they’ve got sweetness from honey.

Quite honestly, I love ’em because they are less sweet than the canned variety. These beautiful baked beans are not too sweet and pack a major punch of heat.

While they’re not as fast to make as my Instant Pot BBQ Baked Beans, they’re worth the effort!

Dishes you should pair these BBQ baked beans with: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Mustard Coleslaw | Apple Cider Pulled Pork with Apple Coleslaw | BBQ Chicken Burger Bites with Avocado Slaw | Pear BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Pear Slaw | Pulled Pork Coleslaw Eggrolls

Need some barbecue inspiration? Head on over to my BBQ Recipe Index for more ideas!

What you need to make Baked Beans with Bacon:

The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

• Large mixing bowl
• Dutch oven
• Sharp knife and cutting board

In addition to those tools, you’re going to need some ingredients, too:

• Navy beans—the dried variety. We’re going to soak them overnight before cooking, so make sure to do this! You could also use another white bean, like a northern white bean or a cannellini bean.
• Water
• Kosher salt
• Bacon
• White onions—yellow onions would work in a pinch, too!
• Garlic cloves
• Bloody Mary Mix—we’re using this to give us a ton of flavor to the beans! Zing Zang is our favorite Bloody Mary Mix. Tabasco Bloody Mary Mix also has really good flavor!
• Barbecue sauce—you can get your favorite at the store (we prefer Rendezvous and Stubb’s brands in our house) or you can make your own barbecue sauce
• Honey
• Sriracha sauce
• Dijon mustard
• Worcestershire sauce

How to make Spicy Baked Beans with Bacon

First and foremost, go through the beans. Pick out any broken beans, plant debris or small rocks, and place them in a large bowl that has more than enough room. Soak the dried beans in water overnight.

Cook the beans. Drain the beans, and place them in a large Dutch oven. Add water, and bring to a boil over high heat for 1(ish) hour, or until the beans are tender. Drain and set aside.

Make the spicy baked beans. In the same Dutch oven, cook the strips of bacon until caramelized. Remove the bacon, but leave the drippings in the pan. Add the onions and garlic to the bacon drippings and cook until soft. Next, add the Bloody Mary Mix, barbecue sauce, honey, Sriracha sauce, mustard and Worcestershire sauce, and bring it to a boil. Stir in the beans, cover and bake in a preheated oven for 60 minutes. Remove the lid, and bake for an additional 30 minutes before serving.

Erin’s Entertaining Tips

Baked Beans with Bacon are one of my favorite dishes to serve at a backyard barbecue or any other outdoor gathering involving food because they go so well with so many dishes. Whether you’re making actual barbecue, like Memphis Style Ribs (Dry Rub Oven Baked Ribs Recipe) or Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork, or serving something like Juicy Lucy Burgers, this recipe is a delicious side dish.

With that in mind, here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years while making my baked beans from scratch.

• Give yourself more than enough time. I always start cooking mine with 3-4 hours to go before guests arrive. Why? Sometimes, the beans take longer to soften when boiling. And if they finish early, they can always be kept warm or reheated in the oven.
• Give ’em a good taste. These baked beans are less sweet than the canned variety, and I like that. However, before you serve them, give them a taste and doctor them as needed.
• Double the easy baked beans recipe if you’re feeding a crowd. The bean’s cooking time might need to be a little longer since there are more beans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Tips And Tricks To The Best Baked Beans in the Oven

• Use the right ingredients. We’re using dried beans in this recipe, not canned beans. Also, choose your favorite bacon and use that!
• How to store Spicy Baked Beans: Once these beans have cooled off, place in an airtight food storage container. Store in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave until they’re at the optimal temperature.
• Season to taste. While I think this combination is pretty dang perfect, you might like your baked beans with bacon a little sweeter. That’s OK. Follow the instructions below, then give the beans a taste. If it needs more sweetness, add in another drizzle of honey. If you like it spicier, feel free to add in more hot sauce.