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.

sweet and spicy baked beans

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.
spicy beans

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

  1. 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.
  2. Place all ingredients except the bacon, in a 2 1/2 or 3-quart baking dish and stir to combine everything together well.
  3. 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.
  4. Bake uncovered for 2 hours or until desired thickness. If bacon starts to get too dark, cover loosely with aluminum foil.

PARTY TIP: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place the baking dish on it while it cooks. This way anything that bubbles over will be caught on the foil to make clean up easy. It also makes it easier to transfer the baking dish to and from the oven.

party baked beans

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. 

baked beans with sausage

PARTY TIP: Use a slotted spoon to serve baked beans so you don’t have a lot of sauce dripping onto your other food; OR serve in individual ramekins to keep it all contained.

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sweet and spicy baked beans recipe with bacon

Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans Recipe

Yield: about 8 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

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

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Crumble and cook sausage and chopped onion in a skillet until cooked through. Drain and dab with paper towel if desired.
  3. Place all ingredients, except bacon, in a 2 1/2 or 3 quart baking dish. Stir to combine well.
  4. 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.
  5. Bake uncovered for 2 hours or until desired thickness.

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11 Comments

  1. Love the addition of hot sausage! Mmm and that bacon on top makes it perfect!

  2. My husband would be in heaven if I made him a batch of these!!! Perfect end of the summer recipe!!

  3. There is nothing I love more than baked beans! I absolutely adore the flavor in these!!

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