Baked Beans with Sausage & Bacon
Sweet and spicy baked beans with sausage and bacon is on my short list of go-to side dishes for potlucks, cookouts, and backyard barbecues. This is a crowd pleasing party recipe that combines a sweet and savory combo with two kinds of beans and spicy sausage.
These baked beans have that traditional sweet sauce, but with a little heat from spicy sausage. It’s a delicious recipe for a backyard bbq and can serve as a main dish or a hearty side dish.
Sweet & Spicy Baked Beans
I’ve been making this recipe for at least 15 years and it always gets rave reviews! It’s become one of our favorites for feeding guests and potluck parties.
If you want something with less sugar and more of a Tex Mex taste, try my baked beans with ground beef recipe.
Why You’ll Love It
- You can take it to backyard cookouts, church socials, or game day parties, and watch it disappear!
- The addition of hot sausage makes it more interesting, but only adds a hint of spiciness.
- Black beans add more texture and flavor, while other classic ingredients add sweetness.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground breakfast sausage. I use hot but you can substitute with regular flavor.
- Onion (yellow or white)
- Pork and Beans (2 cans, undrained)
- Black beans (1 can, drained and rinsed)
- Hickory Smoked barbecue sauce
- Dark brown sugar
- Ketchup
- Coarse grain mustard
- Molasses
- Chili powder
- Bacon
How to Make It
- Crumble and cook a half pound of hot sausage along with chopped onion, in a skillet until cooked through. Drain the excess fat, and dab with a paper towel if desired.
- Place all ingredients except the bacon, in a 2 1/2 or 3-quart baking dish and stir to combine everything together well.
- Lay bacon across the top. For a single layer use 4 strips, for a basket weave pattern (like a pie crust) use 6 strips placing 3 in one direction, and 3 in the opposite direction.
- Bake uncovered for 2 hours or until desired thickness. If bacon starts to get too dark, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
What to Serve with Baked Beans
Serve this baked beans recipe alongside almost any meat for cookouts. Or, make this your main entrée and serve is with salads and summer side dishes.Â
- It’s great with the best juicy burgers recipe.
- Serve them with chicken skewers or beef kabobs.
- Add them to a hot dog roast.
- For an outdoor party, use the grill to make grilled corn on the cob.
If you like this post, PIN, Share, or sign up for our Newsletter at the top of the page. And don’t forget to follow CAH on Instagram or Facebook. Cheers!
Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe
This Sweet and Spicy baked beans recipe with bacon is our go-to side dish for potlucks, cookouts, and backyard barbecues. It's a crowd pleasing party recipe.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound hot sausage
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 - 15 oz cans pork and beans, undrained
- 1 - 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup hickory smoked barbecue sauce
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup coarse grain mustard
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 4-6 slices center cut bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Crumble and cook sausage and chopped onion in a skillet until cooked through. Drain and dab with paper towel if desired.
- Place all ingredients, except bacon, in a 2 1/2 or 3 quart baking dish. Stir to combine well.
- Lay bacon across the top. For a single layer use 4 strips, for a basket weave pattern {like a pie crust} use 6 strips placing 3 on bottom layer, and 3 on top layer.
- Bake uncovered for 2 hours or until desired thickness.
Love the addition of hot sausage! Mmm and that bacon on top makes it perfect!
These would be perfect for a Labor Day BBQ! I love the sweet and spicy mix!
This looks way better than the average baked beans!
Look totally drool-worthy! 🙂
My husband would be in heaven if I made him a batch of these!!! Perfect end of the summer recipe!!
Yep! My husband loves the addition of the sausage, Liz.
Sounds like a perfectly flavorful combo too! Pinning. xo
Yes, lots of great flavors, Kelly!
Perfect for summer parties!
There is nothing I love more than baked beans! I absolutely adore the flavor in these!!
Same here, Jocelyn. It’s one of those side dishes everyone seems to agree on!