4-Bean Smoked Baked Beans With Bacon & Dr. Pepper

This smoked baked beans recipe is my pride and joy: smoky, sweet, savory, and lightly spicy. It’s packed with flavor from the 4 types of beans, bacon, Dr. Pepper, green chilies, and a few more surprise flavor enhancers that’ll make you wonder why you ever settled for less.

My wife is always telling me to stop messing with classic recipes, but when it comes to baked beans, I just can’t help myself. And I certainly don’t regret it. My latest experiment was a hit, despite the simplicity. Once you fry the bacon, chop the veggies, and sautee the onions it’s dump & go time!

Don’t get me wrong. These will remind you of the traditional homemade baked beans but the upgrade is significant: smoky + sweet + savory + spicy + textured (4 types of beans) = success.

My math game is strong, right? 😎

🛒 Ingredients

Different types of beans have unique textures and flavors (check out black beans vs pinto beans, for example). I mixed several types for my smoked baked beans to get a more complex bouquet and guess what? It worked!

For the 4-bean medley, you’ll need 1 can (rinsed and drained) of each of the types below:

• Black Beans
• Pinto Beans
• Kidney Beans
• White Beans

And for the rest of the goods:

• 1 pound (16 ounces) thick-cut bacon, divided
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 can diced green chilis
• 1 ½ cups ketchup
• ⅔ cup dark brown sugar
• ⅓ cup molasses
• 4 oz Dr. Pepper (about ⅓ of a standard can)
• ½ cup peach juice (from canned peaches)
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp hot sauce
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp coarsely ground black pepper

🔥 Instructions

👉Step 1 – Preheat the smoker to 250°F.

👉Step 2 – Cut up half of the bacon (8 oz) and crisp it up in a pan. Set aside.

👉Step 3 – Cook the other half of the bacon in half strips (these will be placed on top of the baked beans before smoking). Keep the drippings.

👉Step 4 – Finely dice the onion and red bell pepper. Rinse and drain the canned beans.

👉Step 5 – Sauté the chopped onions in the bacon drippings until translucent and golden brown. This will take 7-9 minutes.

👉Step 6 – Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl (except the cooked bacon half strips).

👉Step 7 – Pour the contents of the bowl into a large cast iron skillet and top with the cooked bacon strips. I push the bacon down a little bit into the beans (but not too much, it should still be visible).

👉Step 8 – Add smoking wood chips or chunks into the smoker (we used apple wood this time). Smoke the beans for about 2 hours – they will have thickened up nicely.

👉Step 9 – Remove from the smoker and serve!

❗ Recipe Tips & Tricks

💡Don’t Skip the Bacon Fat – The rendered bacon fat adds tons of flavor to the beans. Reserve it and use it to sauté the chopped onion.

💡Crispy Bacon Topping – For extra crunch and flavor, crisp up some extra bacon, cut it into small bits, and sprinkle over the beans before serving.

💡Smoking Wood Options – We love using mild fruit wood when making smoked baked beans. This time we used apple wood, but peach, cherry, pear, and apricot are also great.

However, feel free to opt for a stronger smoke aroma from wood such as oak, pecan, or even mesquite. Check out this free printable smoking wood chart for more options.

🌶️ Additions & Substitutions

📌Heat It Up – For a spicier kick, add a diced jalapeno or chipotle pepper to the mix (with or without seeds, depending on your spice preference).

📌Sweeten the Deal – Feel free to adjust the sweetness level by adding more or less brown sugar or molasses.

📌Change the Flavor Profile – Swap out the Dr. Pepper for another soda, like root beer or cola, for a different flavor twist.

📌Make it Your Own – Get creative with the beans! Add different varieties like cannellini beans or black-eyed peas. You can also add a handful of chopped BBQ pulled pork or smoked brisket for an extra protein boost.

🧑‍🍳 Storage & Reheating

🍱Storage – Leftover smoked baked beans will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

♨️Reheating – To reheat, simply place them in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.

Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave. If you’re feeling adventurous, try reheating them on the grill for an extra smoky flavor boost!

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

These sweet and spicy smoked baked beans are pretty darn good on their own, but they also play nice with other BBQ staples. Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve them up:

⭐Smoked Hot Dogs – A match made in smoky heaven! These smoke at the same temperature as the baked beans so throw some next to that cast iron pan and you’ve got yourself the perfect pair.

⭐Smoked Corn on the Cob – If you’re a fan of sweet and savory combos, you’ll love this pairing and it’s another effortless one. You can smoke the cobs and the baked beans at the same time.

⭐Crispy Potato Chips – Okay, this might not be the healthiest option, but who can resist a crunchy chip dipped in those saucy beans?

⭐Coleslaw – After all that rich, smoky goodness, a little refreshing crunch is just what the doctor ordered. A tangy coleslaw cuts through the richness of the beans and adds a welcome texture contrast. One of our favorites is this spicy Creole coleslaw!

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