Crock Pot Baked Beans

The perfect blend of tangy and sweet, these crock pot baked beans are perfect for any BBQ or party! They’ll stay warm all evening, but they’ll disappear quickly!

Baked beans are usually one of the most popular recipes at the party. They’re fantastic for parties because they’ll stay warm all evening in your crock pot. 

It’s a true, real-life story of “It’s not what you look like…it’s what’s inside that counts!” or “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” 

Both apply for these humble-appearing crock pot baked beans. Unassuming and….brown, they aren’t showy until you take a bite.

After that first bite, you’ll realize that they’re packed full of flavor and are the life of the party. They’re the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. And of course, the bites of bacon will keep you coming back for bite after bite after bite. 

As with most of my recipes, you can adjust these to fit your tastes. I should copy and paste that line because I feel like I use it with nearly every recipe. 

But it’s true! I want you to love every single one of my recipes, even if at first glance it doesn’t seem perfect, we’ll make it perfect for you. Don’t you worry! 

So let’s talk.

About these crock pot baked beans:

These really couldn’t be any easier to make, you guys! You’re going to love them for parties because you can flip the slow cooker to warm and they’ll be ready to go all night, until they disappear. They’re based on my recipe for baked beans that are baked in the oven (but don’t click on that link because it’s an OLD recipe and the photos are B-A-D). 

Slow cooker baked beans are nice and tangy thanks to ketchup, mustard, and vinegar; and they’re sticky sweet thanks to dark brown sugar and molasses. 

The flavor is deepened with onions and bacon and they’re just irresistible. My daughter is obsessed. My son eats nothing. 

How to make these slow cooker baked beans your own:

• Feeling lazy or short on time? I GET IT. I really, really get it. Between you and me….Bush’s Beans are quite tasty. Throw in a can of the butter beans and the bacon with a couple of cans of Bush’s…maybe a splash of vinegar to tone down the sweetness of the canned beans, and everyone will think you made them from scratch. Your secret is 100% safe with me.
• Make this recipe vegetarian (and vegan, for that matter) by leaving out the bacon. Such a simple change! You could add back some of the smokiness by adding a splash (1/2 – 1 teaspoon) of liquid smoke, or 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika (the paprika would be my first choice). 
• Beef them up: Want them to be even heartier? Brown a pound of ground beef and add that to the mix. 
• Want BBQ baked beans? Try using your favorite barbecue sauce instead of ketchup.
• Make them extra smoky: Try adding 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika.
• Add some heat: Add 1 diced jalapeño (leave the ribs and seeds in for extra heat), or 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder. 
• Like them extra sweet? Add more brown sugar, or add honey or maple syrup. 

Best Foods to Eat with Baked Beans:

This list is endless in my opinion, but I love them with traditional BBQ foods. Consider:

• Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and Brats
• Pulled Pork (or Instant Pot Pulled Pork)
• Ribs (or Instant Pot Ribs)
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts (stuffed with avocado and cheddar, YES)

Other side dishes for a perfect BBQ:

Okay, this list is also endless, but here are a few reader favorites from Rachel Cooks, and a few that I love from other sites: 

• Taco Salad – such a classic recipe!
• Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken Beans) – a delicious alternative to baked beans
• Tortellini Pasta Salad – another classic
• Bruschetta Orzo Pasta Salad – this one is a reader favorite! 
• 7 Layer Dip – this is THE BEST 7 layer dip, it always vanishes
• Mexican Corn Dip – a little lighter than the 7 layer dip, but just as big of a hit
• Classic Deviled Eggs from SkinnyTaste – You can’t go wrong with deviled eggs!
• Baked Jalapeño Poppers from Cookie + Kate

Verdict: I love the flavor of these, and they couldn’t be easier to make!
Husband’s take: Ben loves these! He always eats leftovers cold. 
Changes I would make: None are necessary, but feel free to have fun with some of the adaptations I mentioned! 
Difficulty: So easy!