Crockpot Baked Beans

These Crockpot Baked Beans are full of smoky sweet flavor and a hint of spice. Simmer them in the crockpot until tender and then serve with all your favorite main courses. Slow cooker baked beans are the perfect side dish for a picnic or summer barbecue. This recipe is so delicious and easy, you’ll be making it all year long. No barbecue is complete without a heaping helping of baked beans. Serve these up with Air Fryer Cheeseburgers or Brown Sugar Glaze Spiral Ham, some Homemade KFC Coleslaw and Macaroni Salad!

Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe 

If you’re looking for an easy baked beans recipe that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, you’re going to love this slow cooker version. 

It has real bacon for a smoky taste, balanced by sweet molasses flavor from brown sugar. A little mustard adds a tangy dimension that makes these crockpot baked beans irresistible. 

I also added my own twist to this variation on the classic side dish: jalapeno!  The hint of spice makes these the BEST baked beans in my book.

Why Make Baked Beans in the Crockpot?

• No heating up your oven. When the summer heat is pounding down on my roof, the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven. 
• Quick and easy prep. Toss everything in the slow cooker and forget about it while the crock pot baked beans simmer to perfection.
• Hands off. Once the beans are simmering, you can focus on the rest of your to-do list then come back to delicious from-scratch beans. 
• Convenient to serve. If serving baked beans at a potluck or party, you can keep them warm in the slow cooker so everyone has a hot serving of baked beans to enjoy.

How To Make Crockpot Baked Beans

Below you’ll find notes about the ingredients and supplies that are needed, the steps required to make your beans, tips, questions and answers, as well as the printable recipe. 

Ingredients

Ingredients at a glance, full printable recipe found below.

• Dried navy beans
• Bacon – feel free to get creative here. The bacon lends quite a bit of flavor to the dish. My favorite is hickory smoked but feel free to use turkey bacon, maple bacon, black pepper bacon, or your favorite flavor. Cook your bacon halfway before adding to the crockpot if you prefer it to be crispier. Leave the bacon out entirely to make this dish vegetarian.
• Yellow onion
• Jalapeno pepper – add extra pepper for more heat or leave a few of the seeds in for extra kick. If you don’t want any heat substitute with a green bell pepper.
• Brown sugar – this lends a touch of sweetness to the beans and balances out all of the savory ingredients. You can substitute with ¼ cup pure maple syrup.
• Ketchup
• Molasses – This adds an extra kick of flavor to the beans that I really like. You can get similar results using coconut aminos or Worcestershire sauce.
• Yellow mustard – Dijion mustard would also be delicious. A teaspoon of dry ground mustard also works.
• Apple cider vinegar
• Sea salt – if you use table salt reduce the amount by half

Supplies

• Large mixing bowl
• Crockpot or slow cooker
• Measuring cups and spoons and/or kitchen scale
• Cutting board and knife

Steps to Take

1. Soak beans for 10-12 hours.
2. Add bacon, beans, onion and jalapeno pepper to a crockpot. 
3. In a separate bowl, combine water, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar and sea salt. Pour over ingredients in crock pot. 
4. Cook on low for 5-7 hours or high for 3-5. 
5. Serve and enjoy. 

Tips

• If you prefer your crockpot baked beans thicker add 1-2 Tablespoons of cornstarch or arrowroot power at the end of the cooking time and stir to combine. If you prefer a saucier bean, add a bit more water to thin them out to your liking.
• My experience has been that every slow cooker seems to cook differently. Plan accordingly and start checking your beans at the shortest cooking time and adjust as needed.

Questions & Answers

How do you store baked beans? 

Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Can these slow cooker baked beans be frozen? 

These baked beans freeze well. My preferred method is to add them to a freezer-safe resealable bag and lay it flat in the freezer until completely frozen. You can portion it out in smaller bags or containers if you prefer and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator and heat over medium-low until warmed through.

What can I serve crockpot baked beans with? 

Baked beans are the perfect side dish for all of those summer potlucks and barbecues! Serve them along side burgers, chicken, ribs, or with hot dogs, steaks, ham, or brisket! You can also serve them as a side with sandwiches for a delicious lunch! 

Can I substitute another kind of beans for the navy beans? 

Yes, you can make crockpot baked beans with great northern beans or canellini beans (also called white kidney beans) instead.

Do you need to cook the bacon first?

No, the bacon goes into the Crock Pot uncooked here. It will cook with the baked beans in the crockpot.

More Easy Side Dish Recipes

• Rotini Pasta Salad
• Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad
• KFC Coleslaw Recipe
• Easy Mac & Cheese
• Ambrosia Fruit Salad
• Crock Pot Creamed Corn
• Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Jiffy Cornbread
• Glazed Carrots

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