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Smoked BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon and Ground Beef

This Smoked BBQ Baked Beans recipe is made with ground beef, bacon, BBQ sauce, and plenty of seasoning for the ultimate smoky flavor. You can use canned beans or make the dish homemade from scratch. This side can be made with any smoker or pellet Traeger grill.

smoked baked beans with ground beef and bacon in a cast iron skillet
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If you have ever made my Southern Baked Beans, you are in for a treat! This is a similar recipe, but with added ground beef and plenty of smoked flavor. If you don’t want to smoke these, follow the bake time noted in that recipe.

brown sugar, chili powder, and garlic in separate bowls

What Type of BBQ Sauce to Use

This is probably the most important ingredient in the recipe! Your baked beans need BBQ flavor. Use your favorite sauce! I like to use our local Kansas City Gates BBQ Sauce.

bbq sauce, ketchup, and chopped white onions in separate bowls

What Type of Bacon to Use

You can use any bacon in this recipe such as pork bacon or turkey bacon with no adjustment to cooking time. I like to use thick-cut, uncured and nitrate-free bacon.

What Type of Meat to Use

A lot of Southern baked beans are made with ground beef. I love this addition because it enhances the flavor profile. You can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork or sausage, or omit it all completely if you wish.

ground beef and bacon in different bowls

What Type of Beans to Use

Navy beans are often used for baked beans. You can also grab canned baked beans, Bush’s brand if you wish.

If you want to use dried beans and make a truly from scratch recipe, check out my Instant Pot Baked Beans or Slow Cooker Beans with instructions on how to cook the beans first before smoking. Canned beans will simply save you hours of cook time and is a matter of preference.

baked beans in a can

How to Make Smoked Baked Beans

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  1. Preheat smoker.
  2. Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and add the bacon, ground beef, and chopped onions.
  3. Drain any excess fat. Add in the garlic and stir.
  4. Add in beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, chili powder, and brown sugar or sweetener.
  5. Smoke.
collage of 4 photos with ground beef, bacon, and onions in a cast iron skillet

What Type of Wood/Pellets to Use

Apple, cherry, hickory, oak, or the Traeger Signature blend will work well. Any fruit flavor or blend should work for this recipe. Mild smoke flavors will require you to smoke the beans longer. If you are in a hurry, opt for something with a strong smoke flavor.

Smoker Temperature

I recommend 225 degrees.

baked beans with ketchup, brown sugar in a cast iron skillet

Cook Time/How Long to Cook

The beans will need to smoke for 2-3 hours. Use your judgment and taste the beans. They are ready when they have perfect smoky flavor.

Are They Spicy?

The recipe calls for chili powder. I don’t find chili powder spicy, but some people do! So if you don’t want spicy beans omit the chili powder or start with 1/2 teaspoon and continue to adjust to taste.

smoked baked beans with ground beef and bacon in a cast iron skillet

Are the Beans Sweet?

I like for a moderate taste of sweetness so I use 3 tablespoons of brown sugar or sweetener. If you want them to be really sweet use 1/4 cup.

What Type of Pan to Use

I love to use a 12 inch cast iron skillet. You can also use a heavy-duty stainless steel pan. Any pan that will work inside your smoker is best, as long as it’s around 9×13 in size.

smoked baked beans with ground beef and bacon in a cast iron skillet

How to Make a Large Pan for a Crowd

This recipe will make 8 servings, but you can easily double or triple that by doubling the ingredients used in the recipe.

Can You Make Them Ahead?

Yes, you can make these ahead. Allow the beans to cool and place them in a tightly sealed container in the fridge. They will last up to 4 days.

smoked baked beans with ground beef and bacon in a cast iron skillet

How to Make them Vegetarian

Make sure to grab vegetarian baked beans. From there, you can simply omit the bacon and beef used in this recipe.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze these in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight. I love to reheat these in the oven or air fryer on 350 degrees until warm. Stovetop works as well.

How to Reheat

I love to reheat these in the oven or air fryer on 350 degrees until warm.

wooden spoonful of smoked baked beans

Pair with these Main Dish Smoked Recipes

Traeger Smoked Glazed Ham
Smoked Cod
Traeger Smoked Turkey Breast
Traeger Smoked Salmon
Traeger Smoked Chicken Breast
Traeger Smoked Ribs (3-2-1 Method)
Traeger Smoked Chicken Wings
Smoked Lobster Tail
Traeger Smoked Whole Chicken
Traeger Smoked Brisket
Traeger Pulled Pork (Shoulder Butt)

More Smoked Side Dishes

Smoked Salsa
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Smoked Sweet Potatoes
Smoked Asparagus
Smoked Baked Potatoes
Traeger Smoked Corn on the Cob

Check out our collection of 25 Recipes With Ground Beef.

smoked baked beans with ground beef and bacon in a cast iron skillet
Print Pin
5 from 2 votes

Smoked BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon and Ground Beef

This Smoked BBQ Baked Beans recipe is made with ground beef, bacon, BBQ sauce, and plenty of seasoning for the ultimate smoky flavor. You can use canned beans or make the dish homemade from scratch. This dish can be made with any smoker or pellet Traeger grill.
Save this recipe here.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword smoked baked beans, smoked baked beans with bacon, smoked baked beans with ground beef, traeger smoked baked beans
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 435kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion I use white onion.
  • 2 garlic cloves Minced.
  • 2 28 oz cans baked beans I use vegetarian.
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder This amount will give the beans a kick. If you don't want a dose of spicy omit it or start with 1/2 teaspoon and continue to taste and build.
  • 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar or sweetener I typically use 3. See notes.

Instructions

  • Preheat smoker to 225 degrees.
  • I like to use a 12 inch cast iron skillet to make everything using one pan. You can use any pan or smoker safe dish.
  • Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and add the bacon, ground beef, and chopped onions. Cook until the bacon is crisp, the ground beef is no longer pink, and the onions are translucent and fragrant.
  • Drain any excess fat. Add in the garlic and stir.
  • Add in the beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, chili powder, and brown sugar or sweetener. Stir. Taste the mixture repeatedly to ensure the flavor meets your tastes. I don't add any salt because I feel the bacon adds enough. Taste and decide if you want to add salt or any other flavor.
  • Smoke for 2 to 3 hours until the beans are bubbly, the sauce has thickened, and the beans have an amazing smoky flavor.
  • Remove from the smoker and cool before serving.

Notes

Any bacon will work for this recipe including turkey.
You can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork or sausage, or omit it all completely if you wish.
When using canned beans, I don’t completely drain the beans, but I do pour off the top layer of liquid that forms in the can.
I don’t find chili powder spicy, but some people do! So if you don’t want spicy beans omit the chili powder or start with a 1/2 teaspoon and continue to adjust to taste.
I like for a moderate taste of sweetness so I use 3 tablespoons of brown sugar or sweetener. If you want them to be really sweet use 1/4 cup.
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 10g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
5 from 2 votes
Recipe Rating




Kim

Wednesday 26th of June 2024

My husband are not fond of smoked food. Can this be made in a slow cooker instead. I love all the ingredients so want to make this instead of just plain old baked beans. By the way we love your recipes and I pin about 95% of them. Thanks Kim

staysnatched

Friday 28th of June 2024

Here are slow cooker baked beans.

wilhelmina

Monday 3rd of April 2023

Oh my goodness, these beans are everything! They are SO DELICIOUS! They will be making an appearance at every cookout we have this summer!

staysnatched

Wednesday 5th of April 2023

So glad to hear it!

Ashley

Monday 3rd of April 2023

Yum! These tasted just like my grandmother used to make them. I will definitely make them again.

staysnatched

Wednesday 5th of April 2023

That's always the goal!