Root Beer Baked Beans - Barbecue Side Dish Recipe (2024)

Published: | Modified: | Author: Amanda Livesay

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Root Beer Baked Beans – the best barbecue side dish! Beans with bacon, root beer, and barbecue sauce are baked until the sauce is thick and delicious.

Some of our other favorite side dishes are Hawaiian Macaroni Salad and Broccoli Grape Pasta Salad!

Root Beer Baked Beans - Barbecue Side Dish Recipe (1)

Originally published June 2, 2014. Updated May 6, 2019.

It almost feels like summer has arrived in Texas.

People have finally stopped asking if I’m cold in my Jeep. (I have a heater, y’all. And a boyfriend that makes me take his truck if it’s too cold. I’m fine.)

I mean, it’s still raining buckets5 days a week but it’s finally warm enough for sundresses and sandals.

And I’m so ready for lake days and the waterpark and snow cones.

I’m also so excited for summer foods and baked beans are one of my favorite summer side dishes! I love this recipe or my Pineapple Baked Beans with pretty much anything we grill!

Root Beer Baked Beans - Barbecue Side Dish Recipe (2)

Ingredients

  • Bacon
  • Onion
  • Pork and beans
  • Root beer
  • Barbecue sauce – I like to use a smoky one instead of a honey or brown sugar one so they don’t turn out too sweet
  • Hot sauce

How To Make Root Beer Baked Beans

  • Cook bacon in a skillet until crisp; remove and drain on paper towels, leaving some of the drippings in the skillet
  • Crumble bacon and set aside
  • Sauce onion in the hot bacon droppings until softened
  • Stir together cooked onion, crumbled bacon, pork and beans, barbecue sauce, and hot sauce in a baking dish
  • Bake beans at 400F for about 55 minutes

Can You Make It Ahead?

You can definitely make root beer baked beans ahead of time! Do all the steps except baking, let it cool, cover it tightly, and then pop it in the fridge until you are ready to bake them.

They made need extra time in the oven since they are starting out cold so just keep an eye on them.

Can You Use A Different Soda?

Yes! Dr Pepper baked beans sound delicious, don’t they?! Or Coca-Cola!

I would avoid any of the lemon lime, orange, grape, etc sodas though. Stick with the classics.

Root Beer Baked Beans - Barbecue Side Dish Recipe (3)

How Long Are Baked Beans Good For?

Baked beans are good in the fridge for about 3 – 4 days. They are best within the first day or so but they’re perfectly safe to eat for a few days.

Make sure to store them in an airtight container (these are my favorite containers for storing leftovers) and keep them in the refrigerator.

You can reheat them in the microwave or even bake them again!

More Barbecue Side Dish Recipes

  • Cranberry Almond Broccoli Salad
  • Southwestern Cornbread Salad
  • Fritos Corn Salad
  • Baked Potato Salad
  • Cole Slaw Pasta Salad

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Root Beer Baked Beans - Barbecue Side Dish Recipe (4)

📖 Recipe

Yield: 8 servings

Root Beer Baked Beans

Root Beer Baked Beans - Barbecue Side Dish Recipe (5)

Root Beer Baked Beans - the best barbecue side dish! Beans with bacon, root beer, and barbecue sauce are baked until the sauce is thick and delicious.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time55 minutes

Total Time1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 bacon slices
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 16-ounce cans pork and beans
  • ½ cup root beer, not diet
  • ¼ cup smoky barbecue sauce
  • ⅛ teaspoon hot sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp; remove and drain on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings in skillet. Crumble bacon.
  3. Sauté diced onion in hot bacon drippings in skillet over high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Stir together onion, crumbled bacon, beans, and remaining ingredients in a lightly greased 1-quart baking dish.
  4. Bake beans, uncovered, for 55 minutes or until sauce is thickened.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 165Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 637mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 6gSugar: 5gProtein: 8g

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sandra says

    This quickly became a favorite at my house! SO good!

    Reply

  2. Cathy says

    I love the flavor and sweetness the root beer adds to this recipe!

    Reply

  3. Catalina says

    My family loves baked beans! They will love this dinner idea!

    Reply

  4. Krystle says

    I love the unique flavor of these. They are a staple every time I have a picnic or BBQ.

    Reply

  5. Beth says

    I’m going to make these tomorrow! I have all the ingredients in the house right now, including the root beer. I’m a root beer friend, so I know these are going to be great.

    Reply

  6. Erik says

    What a fun way to shake things up with baked beans. So excited about this!

    Reply

  7. Rosamonde Simone @ KetoBotyToneAvis says

    Your recipe root-beer-baked-beans are looking so delicious. I will try it. Thank you.

    Reply

  8. Eileen Mbekumbe says

    Could you please send me recipes for sugar beans,potatoes, queen cakes & simple cakes. I love cooking. Also if you have any other recipes I would love them. In box me.

    Reply

  9. Barbara | Creative Culinary says

    I am making these today; I make my own BBQ sauce so will do that and then smoke the beans. Maybe you’ll smell them all the way down in the Springs!

    Reply

    • amanda says

      I hope they turned out well! :)

      We moved down to Texas last month. I’m still hoping the Army will tell us it was all a big mistake and we can go back to the Springs!

      Reply

      • Barbara | Creative Culinary says

        Loved them; added a few of my own have to’s (garlic and molasses) but the best part? I told my neighbor who was coming for a barbecue on Memorial Day that I was making baked beans. She said, ‘ What do you mean, like opening a can of beans and heating them?’ No, I add stuff to them…she had never done that!

        Guess what? She really like the smoked chicken but her favorite thing of all I served at dinner? The baked beans…I would say we have a convert!

        Nice recipe; I’ve heard of adding colas but I’m a root beer girl through and through so it never got me until I saw your recipe…thanks!

        Reply

  10. Barbara | Creative Culinary says

    I saw this in our group and had to check them out. I LOVE baked beans with a sweet/spicy component and these sound perfect. Off to do errands and thinking a stop by A&W is a must!

    BTW, I didn’t know you were in Colorado…we must connect! I’ve got a listing of Colorado bloggers on my site; I’ll add you to it.

    Reply

  11. Sharon Haddock says

    Here is a little tip for you: Cover a baking sheet with sides with foil, place your bacon slices on it, Place the sheet in the oven, then turn it to 450 degrees. When the oven has preheated to 450 degrees, your bacon should be nice and crispy. If the bacon isn’t quite as crispy, leave it for a few more minutes, watching closely. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, lower the temp to desired temp, dice your bacon, pour the drippings into your skillet and saute your onions. This way your bacon will be nice and crispy and will not have shrunk to 1/2 it’s original size. This is the only way we cook bacon anymore. Got the idea from Pinterest.

    Am going to try your Root Beer Beans next weekend! They sound SUPER yummy!

    Reply

  12. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    I am a bit obsessed with root beer, to the point where I have a collection of all the different kinds of bottled root beer (over 100 and counting). Gotta try these beans.

    Reply

  13. Crystal | Apples & Sparkle says

    I am a baked bean lover too! Cold out of the fridge? – give em’ to me all day long, yum! I love the idea of the root beer, sounds like a flavor that would work so well with baked beans.

    Reply

  14. Cookbook Queen says

    I’m just starting to learn to work our grill because I’m tired of my husband burning our food. It’s true. Love these beans!!

    Reply

  15. Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says

    I love baked beans! And yay for summer finally happening in Colorado. Baked beans are one of my favorite side dishes for a summer cook out too. That and macaroni salad :)I love that these are made in root beer! Pinned :)

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Root Beer Baked Beans - Barbecue Side Dish Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to serve with BBQ baked beans? ›

Here are some side dishes that pair well with baked beans and sausages:
  1. Grilled or roasted vegetables (e.g. corn, zucchini, bell peppers)
  2. Coleslaw or potato salad.
  3. Cornbread or garlic bread.
  4. Grilled or roasted potatoes.
  5. Baked macaroni and cheese.
  6. Green salad with a tangy dressing.
  7. Grilled or steamed corn on the cob.
Jan 29, 2023

What can I add to baked beans? ›

Ingredients for Meaty Baked Beans
  1. Canned baked beans - Your favorite brand of "pork n beans" or "original" baked beans.
  2. Lean ground beef.
  3. Bacon.
  4. Sugar.
  5. Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar.
  6. Ketchup - You could do half ketchup and half bbq sauce if you want a little extra tang!
  7. Onion - I prefer to use white or yellow onion.
Apr 25, 2023

Can you put Bush's baked beans on the grill? ›

The direct heat side is great for cooking hotdogs, hamburgers, or other popular summertime quick-grilling meats. The indirect heat side allows you to slowly cook items such as delicious baked beans – providing time for the smoky flavor to come through, without the harsh, direct heat that could cause the beans to burn.

Are BBQ baked beans good for you? ›

The Bottom Line. Baked beans are high in protein, fiber, other nutrients, and beneficial plant compounds. They may improve gut health and cholesterol levels.

What is healthy to eat with baked beans? ›

Baked beans can make up part of a balanced diet, but it's best to eat them alongside foods such as vegetables, eggs and slow-release carbohydrates to ensure a good balance of nutrients with not too much salt or sugar.

What can you add to baked beans to make them tastier? ›

Here's what we dress them up with:
  1. Bacon.
  2. Onion.
  3. Maple syrup.
  4. Spicy mustard.
  5. Beef sausage.
  6. Molasses.
  7. Ketchup.
  8. Cider vinegar.
Jun 20, 2023

What meats are best to add to beans? ›

Ham hock, bacon, or a bit of sausage are good options for building a foundation of flavor for beans. If it's sausage or bacon, you'll want to cook it through before adding it to the pot.

What do Americans put with baked beans? ›

Besides barbecue, we do sometimes have baked beans with hamburgers and hotdogs (I realize a hotdog is technically a sausage).

How do you pimp up baked beans? ›

One idea is to add marmite (trust me, it's lovely if you like marmite). You can also spice up you're your baked beans by adding a teaspoon of your favourite spice, for example smoked paprika, cumin or chilli powder if your feeling adventurous.

What can I add to canned baked beans to make them better? ›

Stir together baked beans, onion, syrup, brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard in a large bowl. Pour into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Lay bacon slices across the top. Bake in the preheated oven until the bacon is browned and the beans have thickened, 35 to 40 minutes.

How do you elevate a can of baked beans? ›

A few ideas:
  1. Rinse the beans.
  2. Spice (cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder) and warm them up.
  3. Mix with other ingredients (add vegetables, cooked rice, pasta, or use them as a filling for wraps or tacos)
  4. Mix with your own sauce (onion+bell pepper+carrot+canned tomatoes)
Aug 3, 2023

What is the white stuff in the can of Bush's baked beans? ›

But the saponins in beans are harmless, so while that foam might be a bit shocking when you spot it, just keep rinsing until it is all gone and carry on with your recipe. It's all natural. Ready for an easy dinner that starts with a can of beans?

What should I add to Bush's baked beans? ›

Extra protein: Add diced ham, cooked ground beef, or shredded chicken to the baked beans for an extra boost of protein. Additional vegetables: Include diced green bell pepper, onions, or mushrooms to the recipe for added texture and flavor. Tangy: Replace yellow mustard with Dijon, whole-grain mustard, or dry mustard.

Why is there white stuff in my bush's baked beans? ›

If you're worried about the white stuff on top, it's fat that cooked out of the bacon & rose to the top as it cooled.

What goes well with baked beans on toast? ›

What Goes with Beans onToast? You can eat beans on toast on its own, but you can always serve it with an egg (usually fried, but there's nothing wrong with soft-boiled, or coddled eggs). Some like to add some grated Cheddar cheese on top (you can always put it under the broiler, too).

How do you eat baked beans for dinner? ›

6 Delicious Ways To Eat Baked Beans
  1. Potato Jacket With Baked Beans And Avocado. Need a quick, healthy meal after a busy day? ...
  2. Baked Beans On Potato Cakes. ...
  3. Baked Sausages And Eggs With Baked Beans. ...
  4. Stir Fry Chicken With Baked Beans. ...
  5. Penne Baked Beans Bolognese. ...
  6. Baked Beans On Scrambled Eggs.

What to serve with baked beans and cornbread? ›

The best side dishes to serve with beans and cornbread are pulled pork, Korean corn dogs, southern mash, turkey meatloaf, jiffy tamale pie, garden salad, sweet potato fries, green beans with bacon, corn salad, grilled chicken skewers, stuffed bell peppers, hush puppies, macaroni salad, and fried okra.

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