Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Bacon Recipe

These Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Bacon are a delicious and easy side dish for summer. They’re super quick to prep and then the slow cooker does all the work for you.

A Summer Staple

There are a number of things that are synonymous with Summer. You have outdoor activities like hiking, biking, swimming, fishing and camping. There are also get-togethers such as summer cookouts, family reunions and impromptu neighborhood parties.

And, what do we so often find at these get-togethers? Baked beans. Truly a summer staple when a group of people come together for a meal.

Why are they so popular? Because baked beans are the perfect side dish for just about anything. Hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, chicken, pork chops – a side of baked beans works with them all.

So Many Varieties of Baked Beans Recipes

Now, you can always cook up a can of baked beans you’ve found at the local grocery store. But, I think the best baked beans are homemade baked beans.

I find homemade baked beans to be so much fun because there is such a variety of ways to prepare them. And, here in Minnesota, so many people have a baked bean recipe that’s been passed down a generation or two.

I’ve seen recipes that include ground beef, bacon or other cuts of pork. Some use different varieties of beans. This Smoky Three Bean Bake uses pinto beans, cannellini beans and black beans. I’ve also seen recipes use red kidney beans and butter beans.

There are also some great recipes that use bbq sauce to create a thicker sauce (like these Southern Baked Beans with BBQ and Bacon). Others may add in some chili powder for a little heat.

Bottom line – so many options for a great recipe for baked beans.

A Simple Recipe Using Simple Ingredients

That said, I often focus on developing recipes using simple ingredients that are likely in your pantry or easily found at the local grocery store. Recipes that need just a few minutes of prep time. And, recipes that don’t involve complicated cooking techniques.

This easy baked beans recipe checks all those boxes. First of all, it uses a slow cooker. Slow cooker recipes are often easy to prep and then you just set-it-and-forget-it.

Second, I’m going old school with a classic recipe. This is based off a traditional pork and beans recipe (in this case, I’m using some delicious bacon for the pork). Simple ingredients but still a wonderfully savory flavor.

So, an easy recipe that has a great depth of flavor. Definitely a winner in my mind!

Preparing the Homemade Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Bacon

These slow cooker baked beans with bacon are definitely one of my go-to side dishes. I’ve made baked beans in the oven in the past and I felt like they were a lot of work.

The beans had to be soaked, you had to have cooked bacon, and then once the beans went in the oven, I had to babysit them to make sure that they weren’t drying out. Nothing simple about that.

That’s when I decided to try the beans in a slow cooker and I have to say, it couldn’t be easier. The only prep work is chopping the onion and the bacon and mixing up the sauce. That definitely makes this an easy slow cooker recipe.

Then, everything literally gets dumped in the slow cooker. It cooks for about 6 hours or so, until the beans are nice and tender.

They turn out absolutely delicious every time. They’re slightly sweet from the brown sugar, smoky from the bacon and a little tangy from the Dijon and vinegar.

So, whether you’re grilling burgers, hot dogs or steaks, these slow cooker baked beans are always a perfect side dish on those hot Summer days.

Tips and Tricks

• There is no need to soak the dried beans before cooking. You use dry beans and the slow cooker does all the work for you.
• The best beans for this recipe are definitely the navy beans. I really wouldn’t substitute any other type of bean for this particular recipe.
• The baked beans can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. When ready to serve, reheat them in the microwave or on the stove top. If they’ve thickened up too much, you can thin them out with a little chicken stock.
• I love to serve the beans with Slow Cooker Barbecue Brisket Sliders, Oven to Grill Baby Back Ribs  or Grilled Boneless Turkey Breast, as well as burgers, hot dogs or brats. They’re so versatile.

Ingredients Needed to Make Slow Cooker Baked Beans

Full instructions can be found below in the printable recipe card

• Dried navy beans
• Onion – I prefer red onion, but a white or yellow onion is a good substitute.
• Bacon
• Water
• Brown sugar
• Dijon mustard
• Worcestershire sauce
• Apple cider vinegar
• Black pepper
• Salt
• Chicken stock

How to Make Slow Cooker Baked Beans

• Place navy beans, chopped onion and chopped bacon in slow cooker.
• In a medium bowl combine water with brown sugar, Dijon, Worcestershire, vinegar, salt and pepper.
• Pour over bean mixture.
• Pour in chicken stock.
• Cook on high for 6 hours, until beans are soft.

Want to See More Easy Summer Side Dishes? Check These Out:

Cauliflower Dill “No Potato” Salad

Fiesta Corn Saute

Summer Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Poppyseed Dressing

Creamy Cucumber Dill Salad

Grilled Potato Rounds

ENJOY!