This recipe for Cast Iron Smoked Barbecue Beans is the best Barbecue Bean recipe you will ever have. Loaded with sausage and sautéed onions, peppers and smoky goodness!

Updating a Nostalgic Recipes

Growing up this Barbecue Bean dish was my mother’s go to recipe for any family gathering or backyard cookouts. The original recipe was made in a crockpot and didn’t have any sautéed onions or peppers. I decided I wanted to take this childhood recipe and give it a facelift. Sauteing the onions and peppers in a cast iron skillet along with the ground sausage adds texture and depth of flavor to the recipe. I personally added a few diced jalapeños to kick the spice up another notch.

Why Smoking the Barbecue Beans makes such a difference.

As I mentioned my mother originally prepared this recipe in a classic 1970’s beige and brown crockpot. The beans were always delicious but I knew that a kiss of smoke would lend itself perfectly to the dish. As you cook the beans in the smoker the top of the beans will begin to develop a skin on it. Stirring the beans every half hour incorporates that smoke into the sauce so that the entire skillet has that smoky flavor not just the top.

I don’t have a smoker, can I still make this recipe?

Of course, this recipe is still very tasty whether you prepare it in a crockpot or bake in the oven. You could also just simmer the barbecue beans on the stove top on low for about 30 minutes and serve. If preparing in one of these methods you might want to add a tsp of liquid smoke to replicate that smoky flavor. You can also prepare the recipe over indirect heat on your outdoor grill to get that subtle charcoal grilled flavor.

All About the Beans.

I chose a variety of beans because each one has a slightly different flavor and texture. Using a variety of beans also gives the dish a more inviting appearance than if you only choose one type of beans. If you don’t have every variety that I used don’t fret go ahead and substitute whatever beans you have. Even if you only have two types of beans just use the same quantity and the recipe will come out great.

The reason I use canned beans as opposed to fresh is primarily out of convenience. In a recipe like this I find that it’s just easier to pop open some cans and get cooking right away. If I did use dry beans I would have to soak them overnight and beaches the beans are different sizes they would cook unevenly. For soups I normally use dry beans but for this recipe I find the canned is the way to go.

More Tasty Side Dishes

• Broccoli Salad w/ White BBQ Sauce
• Homemade Spicy Honey Cornbread Muffin Recipe
• Cast Iron Roasted New Potatoes
• BBQ Grilled Spaghetti Squash Rings
• Kale Rockefeller

Cast Iron Smoked Barbecue Beans

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, BBQ

Keyword: BBQ Beans, Cast Iron, Smoked Beans

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Servings: 15

Calories: 209kcal

Equipment

• 12" Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

• 8 oz Loose Breakfast Sausage
• 1 cup Diced Onion
• 1 cup Diced Bell Pepper
• 1/2 cup Ketchup
• 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
• 1/4 cup Diced Jalapeno optional
• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
• 2 can Light Kidney Beans Drained
• 1 can Black Beans Drained
• 1 can Cannelini Beans Drained
• 1 can Butter Beans Drained
• 2 tbsp BBQ Rub
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard

Instructions

• saute diced onions, bell peppers and jalapeno in a cast iron skillet until softened then brown off sausage until almost fully cooked.
• drain and rinse the canned beans then add to the skillet. add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
• Smoke or bake the barbecue beans for 1 hour at 350 degrees F. Stir the beans at the 30 minute mark.

Notes

Serving Size 1/2 cup

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 532mg | Potassium: 455mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 3mg