Mama's Smoked Baked Beans
When barbecue season rolls around, folks start thinking about ribs, brisket, burgers, and chicken. But I am here to tell you, there is one side dish that better be sitting on that table: baked beans.
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Now, I grew up eating baked beans, and this recipe came from my mama. She made them for gatherings, ranch meals, and anytime we needed something easy that would feed a crowd. This is not fancy food. Like the apron says, you cannot get full on fancy. This is hearty, smoky, comforting food that tastes like it has been cooking all day.
These smoked baked beans are easy, hearty, and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Easy & Simple Smoked Baked Beans
The first trick is using two kinds of beans. Pork and beans give you that familiar sweet flavor, and ranch-style beans bring in a little more depth. If you cannot find ranch-style beans, chili beans will work too. Drain them well first, because we are going to add flavor back in with the good stuff.
Tip: drain the beans first - this will allow you to add back in sauces and seasonings without it getting too runny.
From there, we are adding diced jalapeños, onion, bacon, brown sugar, mustard, Red River Mud BBQ sauce, and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. I am using yellow mustard here but you can use our Sweet & Spicy Hatch Mustard to kick it up a notch. That adobo is one of my favorite ingredients because it gives you smoke, heat, and a deep pepper flavor all in one spoonful.
I like to cook these in a Dutch oven over indirect heat with a little mesquite smoke drifting across the top. That smoke catches the bacon, the beans, and all that sauce, and turns it into something special. You can also bake them in the house at 350 degrees until the bacon crisps a little on top and everything is bubbling.
One thing I learned from watching mama make beans: chop the bacon instead of laying full strips across the top. That way every spoonful gets a little bacon, and nobody walks off with the whole piece.
Let these cool a little before you dig in, because hot baked beans will stick to the roof of your mouth and burn you. They'll go fast, and don't expect any leftovers.
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