Need a great, easy side dish recipe just as perfect for a grilling party as it is for a cozy winter’s meal? Slow Cooker Barbecue Beans with Bacon does the trick with luscious sweet, tangy barbecue flavor and no effort thanks to the slow cooker (no heating up the kitchen either)! Plus everything is better with bacon!
Fourth of July is creeping up quickly for me this year. It’s been a busy few weeks and I’ve spent four days this week in southern California at a food photography and styling workshop. Having just returned to a Friday full of appointments it doesn’t leave me much time to pull together a festive menu.
My goal is to not cook anything in the oven or for any length of time on the stove top to keep the house cool. It’s a perfect occasion for Slow Cooker Barbecue Beans with Bacon. A great side dish anytime without any fuss.
I was just talking to a friend last week about summer cooking. She was saying they really need to be cooking more regularly rather than dining out or getting grab-and-go food. She also doesn’t want to turn on the stove not wanting to heat her house up more than it already is with summer heat.
I was suggesting that she really consider more slow cooker recipes; that most people think of slow cookers just for the cold weather months but that’s just not the only time to use them. They are great to not heat up the kitchen and to allow you your day, not requiring much preparation.
Slow cooker recipes have expanded to include all genres of food from desserts to main dishes and everything in between. Pinterest is a fantastic source of great ideas (I have a board dedicated to slow cooker recipes). It took me awhile before I really would regularly remember to use my slow cooker in the summer.
Today I’m sharing a great lightly spicy Slow Cooker Barbecue Bean with Bacon recipe. Barbecue beans are a great side dish for most summer cookouts as well as soul-warming in winter. I like to use some barbecue sauce in the recipe and embellish with the ingredients of homemade barbecue sauce to really get a tasty depth of flavor. The addition of bacon brings a smoky flavor and since it is precooked not much extra fat is added to the beans.
Slow Cooker Barbecue Beans with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 medium Yellow Onion , peeled and chopped
- 12 ounces Bacon , chopped
- 4 15- ounce cans Great Northern Beans , drained and rinsed
- 1 cup Barbecue Sauce (prepared or homemade)
- ½ cup Ketchup
- ½ cup Light Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Molasses (light)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dry Mustard
- 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon Hot Smoked Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Liquid Smoke
Instructions
- In a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, combine the onions and bacon. Cook, stirring periodically until the onions are translucent and the bacon is cooked (it will not be crisp); 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- In a 4-quart or larger slow cooker, add the beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, vinegar, paprika and liquid smoke. Add the cooked onion and bacon and stir the mixture together. Cook on LOW for 4 hours.
Kim Croisant says
Anything cooked in a slow cooker is the best…in my opinion. Those beans look so yummy…and a must for family picnics and backyard bbq.
Rosey says
Always a summer staple. I love that you made them in the slow cooker.
Theresa says
These are perfect for any summertime cookout! I haven’t tried molasses in my bbq beans, but I can’t wait to see how it tastes in this recipe!
Ora Lee Gurr says
What an awesome recipe. It is so nice to get up early, start dinner in the slow cooker, and get everything done during the day without worrying about “what’s for dinner”. This is going to be tomorrow’s evening meal.
Nicole Escat says
Oh, I like this. I love pressure cooker dishes. Saves me time and effort!
Jeanine says
These look delicious. Can you believe I’ve never made these before? They look delicious and would be perfect for a backyard cookout!
Beeb Ashcroft says
Oh my lands, I am a sucker for beans and these just made me drool. They look SO good!
Melisasource says
This recipe sounds amazing! I love using my slow cookers and I know that this recipe will be a family favorite.
Liz Mays says
These would be great along with some burgers or hot dogs. I’d love to make some when we grill.
Colleen Cayes says
The only thing better than making this recipe myself would be for you to come to my house and cook for me. Yum! Thank you for such inspiring photos, too; anyone who puts red onion on hot dogs is my kinda person.