The Best Smoked Baked Beans (Canned Beans)

Most people just crack open a can of baked beans, but heating them up on the smoker really takes the flavor up a notch.

I make these beans every time I have people over for barbecue. They’re easy to throw together and cook alongside whatever else is on the smoker. Plus, they’re filling and always a hit, even with picky kids.

Looking for a from-scratch version? Check out our homemade smoked baked beans recipe.

For more easy side ideas, you NEED to check out this page, which has all of our most popular BBQ side recipes.

What you need for these Smoked Baked Beans

• Baked Beans – You can use your favorite store-bought brand
• Diced Onion
• Diced Jalapeno – Gives a mild heat and a pop of freshness. For a milder option, you can substitute with diced bell pepper.
• Mustard – A squeeze of yellow mustard adds tang and depth to balance the sweetness in the dish.
• Grape Jelly – Sounds unusual, but it melts into the beans and creates a sweet, glossy sauce that pairs perfectly with smoke and spice.
• Worcestershire Sauce 
• BBQ Rub – A good rub ties everything together. Use a store-bought blend or make a batch of our homemade rub to layer in those smoky, sweet flavors.

You’ll also need a cast-iron pan to smoke the beans in or an aluminum pan for easy cleanup. While you could make this recipe in the oven, I typically always have my pellet smoker going so it’s easy to throw it in along whatever else I’m smoking.

How to make Smoked Baked Beans 

1. Assemble the ingredients 

The prep for this recipe couldn’t be easier. You simply dump everything into a pan.

I like to use disposable aluminum pans for this recipe because the sauce from the beans can be a bear to clean up on traditional cookware. If you prefer, you can use a cast-iron skillet or a baking dish, but get ready for an arm workout when it comes time to clean it. 

Start by pouring both cans of baked beans into the bottom of the pan. Then, add the diced onions, diced jalapeno, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and grape jelly. 

Yes, I said grape jelly, and trust me, it works. I picked up this trick from a buddy on the competition BBQ circuit who used it on his ribs. At first, I thought it sounded weird, but after tasting it, I was hooked. It adds a subtle sweetness that plays perfectly with smoke and spice. If you’ve ever had those crockpot party meatballs, you know the combo works.

Once all the ingredients are in the pan, sprinkle the BBQ seasoning over the top. There is no need to mix yet, I prefer to stir them after an hour on the smoker.

2. Smoking your beans 

Like the prep, the cooking process for these beans is easy too! Remember that canned baked beans are already cooked, so you’re just heating them and adding smoke flavor at this point. 

You can cook this recipe on any smoker or pellet grill. I cooked this batch on my Weber Searwood XL, but I’ve also done them on my offset smoker, kamado charcoal grills, and even my Weber kettle. You could also make them on a gas grill, but won’t get that smoky flavor. 

Place the pan on the grates, and you’ll let them smoke for about one hour. Then you can use a large spoon to give them all a good mix to combine the ingredients.

Then, just let them smoke for about 30 more minutes until they’re just starting to get bubbly, and they’re ready to enjoy! 

How to reheat Smoked Baked Beans 

If your guests don’t finish the whole batch, no worries! This recipe is easy to reheat. It will stay good covered in the fridge for up to a week, and when you’re ready to reheat them, you can just throw the pan back on the smoker for about 30 minutes at 250°F until they’re warmed through. 

If you don’t feel like hassling with the smoker, you can also add them to a pot on the stovetop and cook them on medium heat for 5-10 minutes. 

I don’t recommend microwaving your baked beans because they don’t tend to heat evenly. If you absolutely must microwave them, you can do so on 50% power for 15-30 seconds increments, stirring in between, until they’re heated to your liking.

Easy Smoked Baked Beans Recipe

I hope you enjoy these smoked baked beans as much as my family does! If you give this recipe a try, let us know how it turns out by leaving a rating and a comment below!