Heck yes — sweet-smoky comfort incoming. 🍺➡️🫘
Here’s a Root Beer Baked Beans recipe that’s crowd-pleasing and super easy.
Root Beer Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 2 cans (28 oz total) baked beans (Bush’s or similar)
- 1 cup root beer (not diet)
- ½ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 tbsp molasses (optional but great)
- 1 tbsp yellow or Dijon mustard
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 4–6 slices bacon, chopped (optional but recommended)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Pinch of cayenne (optional)
Instructions
Oven Method (Best Flavor)
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a skillet, cook bacon until just crisp; remove excess grease.
- Add onion to bacon fat and sauté until soft.
- In a baking dish, combine beans, root beer, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, bacon/onion, and spices.
- Stir well, cover loosely with foil.
- Bake 45 minutes, uncover, then bake 15–30 minutes more until thick and bubbly.
Slow Cooker Option
- Cook bacon and onion first.
- Add everything to slow cooker.
- Cook LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2–3 hours, lid cracked slightly at the end to thicken.
Flavor Tweaks
- Extra smoky: add a splash of liquid smoke
- Spicy: diced jalapeño or chipotle powder
- Meaty: add smoked sausage or pulled pork
- Sweeter: use vanilla or sassafras-forward root beer
Pro Tips
- Don’t use diet root beer — it won’t reduce right.
- Beans thicken as they cool, so don’t overbake.
- Tastes even better the next day.
Want a no-bacon vegetarian, Kansas City–style, or campfire foil-pan version?
