Traeger Smoked Baked Beans

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Traeger Smoked Baked Beans are packed with apricot preserves, zesty barbecue sauce and crispy bacon, then smoked to perfection on your Traeger pellet grill!

smoked baked beans with bacon in a disposable aluminum pan.

The Best Smoked Baked Beans!

Rich Smoky Taste: smoking on a pellet grill provides a rich, complex flavor that’s hard to resist. Slices of bacon added in the cooking process deepens the smokiness even further.
Delicious Flavor: thanks to a blend of sweet apricot preserves, tangy mustard, savory bbq sauce and crispy bacon pieces, the flavor is off the charts!
Easy to Store and Reheat: leftovers can be stored and reheated for a quick and flavorful meal.

Why Use A Traeger?

What sets this smoked baked bean recipe apart is the incredible flavor that's infused during the smoking process. Adding smoke to mix makes a big difference in taste.

It’s a step up from regular baked beans recipes, which makes your barbecue game that much better. Plus, a Traeger pellet grill provides consistent results every time.

smoked baked beans in a cast iron skillet.

What If I Don't Have A Smoker?

If you don't have an electric smoker, (ad) you can always bake this dish in a dutch oven in a 350 degree oven or a slow cooker on low for 6 hours. A charcoal smoker, campfire, or gas grill will work too.

You can infuse more flavor by adding a smoker box to your grill, (ad) or stir in a teaspoon of liquid smoke if you're baking beans indoors.

smoked beans going in the Traeger pellet grill.

Ingredients You'll Need

See quantities and details in recipe card at the bottom of this page.

canned beans
barbecue sauce
apricot preserves

minced garlic
yellow mustard
steak seasoning

green onions
brown sugar
smoked bacon

ingredients needed to make Smoked Baked Beans with Bacon.

Instructions

Cut bacon into 1 inch slices with kitchen scissors. Fry in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop until crispy. Stir frequently to prevent scorching.

Remove bacon from grease and drain on a paper towel while making beans.

smoked bacon cooking in a cast iron skillet.

In a large bowl, whisk barbecue sauce, apricot preserves, mustard and brown sugar together.

Add pork and beans (undrained) and stir well.

Stir in minced garlic, steak seasoning and diced green onions to beans. Pour contents of bowl into a 13 x 9 inch disposable aluminum pan or large cast iron skillet.

baked beans in an aluminum pan before being smoked in a pellet grill.

Top beans with fried bacon and stir slightly.

Preheat smoker to 225 degrees F. Place uncovered pan of beans in the smoker and close lid.

Smoke for 2 hours, stirring once or twice. Increase temperature of smoker to 350 degrees and cook about 30 minutes until sauce is thickened and a light crust forms on top.

smoked baked beans after cooking for 2 hours in a Traeger smoker.

Customize It!

This easy recipe is perfect for customizing because there are so many ways to make it your own. Here are some variations to try:

Use a Variety of Beans: Instead of pork and beans, try kidneys, navy beans, black beans, pintos, or even cannellini beans!
The Meatier the Better: meat lovers can add chunks of smoked sausage, beef brisket or pulled pork to the mix. Cooked ground beef certainly wouldn’t hurt either. Or, go hog wild and add pork belly to the top of the beans!
Vegetarian Friendly: if you’re serving this dish to vegetarians, skip the bacon grease and use vegetarian beans. Add chipotle peppers to help the dish retain its flavor. Throw in some more veggies like red bell pepper.
Spice it Up: add plenty of jalapeño peppers, chipotle seasoning, chili powder or cayenne pepper for a spicier twist.
Add a Punch of Flavor: if you’d like a tangy taste to cut through the richness of the sauce, add a little apple cider vinegar. You can also serve it with some tangy pickles on the side.

smoked baked beans after smoking in a Traeger smoker.

Expert Tips

Plan Ahead: if you're using dry beans instead of the canned variety, remember to soak them overnight. This helps cook them evenly and absorb the smoke flavor.
Adjust the Flavors: feel free to add jalapeno peppers if it’s not spicy enough, or another dash of brown sugar to amp up the sweetness.
Smoke Level: to get a deeper smoky flavor, use hardwood pellets like hickory or mesquite.
Remember the Toppings: if you’re looking to add a little extra texture and flavor, throw in some sweet pickled onions!

spoonful of baked beans after being smoked in a Traeger grill.

Recipe FAQs

What wood is good for smoking beans?

Fruitwoods like apple and cherry are good options as they give your smoked baked beans a subtle sweetness. Otherwise, hickory and oak provide a stronger smoky flavor without being too overpowering.

How long to smoke baked beans at 225?

It takes about 2 hours to smoke beans at 225 in a Traeger pellet grill. However, to get a crispy crust on top, plan to crank up the heat to 350 degrees for 30 minutes at the end of 2 hours in the smoker.

Storage and Freezing

Leftovers: If you end up with any leftovers, make sure to fully cool them before storing. They can be stored for 4–5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Reheating: To reheat, warm them in a saucepan or skillet and heat on the stove over medium heat, stirring occasionally until thoroughly warm. If the mixture is too thick, try adding a little water to loosen them up.

Freezing: These beans also freeze well – so if you want to, you can make a big batch and freeze some for later. After cooling, transfer the beans to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Serving: Prior to serving, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as needed.

spoon stirring baked beans in a cast iron pan.

What to Serve with Smoked Baked Beans

Traeger Smoked Baked Beans go great with other pellet grill recipes like smoked cheese dip and jalapeño poppers!

For the meat lovers out there, smoked meatloaf is a hearty companion with its savory, tender meat and slathering of barbecue sauce. You can also pair this dish with my old fashioned sloppy joes recipe.

Bring out your baby back ribs, smoked chuck roast, dutch oven pulled pork and dutch oven pork tenderloin — Traeger baked beans are a perfect partner to them all!

If you're grilling poultry, smoked chicken thighs and smoked chicken legs are an excellent choice too. If you want something casual, pair it with my easy hot dog chili or smoked pork butt at your next cookout!

Recipe Card