Easy Maple-Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans

These sweet, smoky 30-minute baked beans with bacon, bourbon and maple are the perfect addition to your BBQ plate!

Easy Maple-Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans – These sweet, smoky 30-minute baked beans with bacon, bourbon and maple are the perfect addition to your BBQ plate! | thecomfortofcooking.com

Can I tell you something nobody else knows?

I have a folder on my computer (uh-oh)… and it’s FULL of failure dishes. Food that just went awfully wrong and should have never made it in front of my lens. But it did. Some of the greatest hits? Well, there was the gorgeous but dry and dense carrot cake, the soggy coconut shrimp fried in too-cold oil, and the slaved over soufflé that went concave… just to name a few! Tragic, tragic losses, all of ‘em. And I almost thought baked beans would make it into my folder of banished recipes, too.

But nope, I wouldn’t let it. This is a story of triumph after all, people!

Easy Maple-Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans – These sweet, smoky 30-minute baked beans with bacon, bourbon and maple are the perfect addition to your BBQ plate! | thecomfortofcooking.com

I scoured around for the perfect recipe, tearing through blogs and cookbooks, and tried a few. Some were a heck of a lot of work with no gain. Some were too easy with a just-decent result. And some included Bush’s Baked Beans in the recipe. Don’t get me wrong, we love those in this house. But if you’re gonna make them from scratch, put some heart and soul into it! No cheating allowed this time.

Easy Maple-Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans – These sweet, smoky 30-minute baked beans with bacon, bourbon and maple are the perfect addition to your BBQ plate! | thecomfortofcooking.com

Enter the most scrumptious, surprisingly good success story to come of my kitchen! These baked beans are incredible, and they just take 30 minutes, folks. Thirty. minutes. Is that, like, unheard of in the world of baked beans or what?

In just half an hour, you get that saucy, slow-cooked taste with nothing more than basic pantry staples and a little stirring required. None of this “soak overnight” nonsense or funny ingredients that you can’t find. Let’s keep it simple. I like it that way, and I bet you do, too.

For BBQs or any laid-back summer party, these super easy, smoky-sweet baked beans are the perfection addition to your plate!

Easy Maple-Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans

Easy Maple-Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans

Yield: 4 (recipe can be doubled)

Ingredients

  • 2 15 oz. cans great northern beans
  • 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, your favorite
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tablespoons light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 Tablespoon molasses or real maple syrup
  • 1 Tablespoon bourbon whiskey, optional
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 small or 1/2 large yellow onion, finely diced (1/2 cup diced)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 4 strips low-sodium bacon, cooked ‘til crisp and chopped

Instructions

  1. Drain beans and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, molasses/maple syrup, bourbon (if desired), Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Set aside.
  3. In a medium pot set to medium-high heat, add butter. Once hot, add onion and garlic; cook until fragrant and soft, about 2 minutes. Pour in BBQ sauce mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, then stir in beans and chopped bacon. Simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Serve warm with your favorite BBQ or grilled food.
  5. Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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Join the Conversation

  1. I have that exact same folder on my computer. It’s labeled……
    Failed…. Horribly.
    LOL.

    These look amazing and maple, bourbon and BBQ? Best flavors around. Must make since I love beans! YUM!

  2. These look amazing Georgia! Maple and bourbon? YUM! Love it! And it only takes 30 minutes? Love it more!

  3. beans look glorious, uses all staple ingredients but the result is darn good, warmth in a bowl :-)

  4. You had me at, “None of this “soak overnight” nonsense”! Loving this easy, fast baked beans recipe, Georgia! I have a long baked recipe using bourbon as well. But, for that speedy fix, I am with your recipe! They look scrumptious, girl. Thanks for sharing! xo

  5. Delicious beans in 30 minutes–yes, please! These look so good, Georgia. Now, let me tell you a secret. I LOVE baked beans. I’ll eat them until my stomach aches. I’ll eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Love me some beans!

  6. Maple and whiskey….wow..these baked beans must be very tasty, Georgia.

  7. Georgia – these baked beans sound amazingly flavorful! Just goes to show you can make real baked beans without cheating in a short period of time!

  8. I bet you there isn’t a blogger out there that doesn’t have “failures” on their computer. If there is I’d like to meet them – lol! These beans look so tasty. My grandma used to make homemade baked beans. Me, I dump them (pre-made) from a can and doctor them up. I know – shame on me!

  9. I too have a folder of failed recipes that didn’t make it onto the blog. It always surprises me when people post recipes that tasted terrible!

    The beans look terrific – I love the maple in there.

  10. Um, these are being made!! I love any kind of baked beans especially when you dip potato chips with them:)

  11. I have a folder like that too. Youre definitely not the only one :) But these beans look a real winner! Love them!

  12. Will be trying these soon!

  13. I’m a new convert to baked beans. My Dad has asked what’s wrong with me for years and it seems (in his opinion) I’ve finally grown up! Now I can’t get enough and I’m going to have to make these as homemade is usually so much better than store bought!

  14. Looks great and tastes crazy good for sure. Short cuts do work but it does taste like shortcuts, you’ve just shown that it doesn’t take much time to get a good dish from scratch.

  15. This is the epitome of Summer deliciousness.

  16. Baked beans are so good and this recipe is awesome! Love it!

  17. mmm . . . I love baked beans!

  18. This is such and awesome summer side!!

  19. How delicious looking beans!!! I wish my family eats more beans so that I would make a big pot of beans like this. I often end up ordering outside, but you know homemade and restaurant is not the same… Looks sooo delicious!

  20. You had me at “30 minutes”…I love quick recipes like this one! My hubby is a huge fan of baked beans, especially when we cook out

  21. THose baked beans look really good! What awesome flavors.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  22. These baked beans sound incredible with the maple and bourbon! I love that they come together in only 30 minutes too. Looks fabulous Georgia!

  23. Triumph, indeed! These look wonderful Georgia! I adore baked beans. We must have them at least every single week. And I have a folder of recipe fails too. Mostly just really ugly food!

  24. Haha–I have a similar folder full of failure dish photos as well :) But it’s makes it all worth it when you make something great!

    I have to say, I’m totally a non-expert when it comes to baked beans (i have very little experience with them), but yours sound excellent!

  25. BARBECUUUUUUE! Whoa sorry, that’s how excited you got me. I LOVE baked beans and have never tried a maple bourbon version. I feel like every bbq needs to include a ginormous pot of baked beans, ideally for leftovers because leftover baked beans are even better than freshly-baked baked beans! Love this, lady!

  26. Yum! Your beans look so packed full of flavor! Love adding bourbon to beans.

  27. Wonderful, hearty looking recipe!

  28. I really love good homemade baked beans. These look so delicious!

  29. Baked beans are my weakness. Seriously I think I could eat them for every meal, every day! …especially when they have BOURBON!

  30. I’m so happy for these beans!! Both the fact that they avoided the banished folder, and just the site and thought of them! They look perfect and delicious – thanks for another wonderful post!!

  31. Hey Georgia, love the blog!

    I love baked beans but I’ve never thought about maple bourbon BBQ baked beans before.

    They look delectable. Where did you get the inspiration from?

    I would never have thought to add bourbon to bake beans but my husband does have some in the house I’m sure so why not.

    Keep up the good work.

    Jen Walker
    http://www.uniquekitchenitems.com/

  32. Mmmm baked beans. I’ve got several methods for making them but have never tried them with bourbon. I love the mixture of ingredients in these!

  33. I NEED these in my life. You are brilliant.

  34. Ack, I always delete my failures unless I think I can make it again and better. in which case, they stay on my computer forever because most of the time I never feel like remaking them!
    These beans look delicious! I love Bush’s and so have never bothered to seek out an alternative but these look pretty easy; will have to try!

  35. 5 stars
    Oh I LOVE these baked beans! These sounds awesome, Georgia!

  36. Oh, the hubby would be on Cloud 9 if I made these for him! I love that you added maple and bourbon…perfect!

  37. What a delicious reminder that I haven’t made any baked beans yet this summer! These look and sound delectable Georgia! Wonderful flavors you packed into them.

  38. Georgia, these sound delicious, the bourbon sounds like a great ingredient to pair with the flavors of the beans!

  39. It is so depressing but I have a folder of food fails. I look back in it every so often and it makes me sad. These baked beans look gorgeous, with a name like maple bourbon who could resist!!

  40. These look delicious! I love baked beans, when those are at the table I think I eat more of those than anything else :).. Love this simple version!

  41. These are so simple to make. I have never made baked beans just like that and with bourbon? Oh my, everything you do my husband would love. Keeping this for the future :-) and speaking of failure dishes, I just did one yesterday, :-( edible but didn’t look quite appealing for the blog!

  42. 5 stars
    I made these baked beans the other day and they were perfect. I’m so glad you posted these so I can make up for my previous loss! Stick to your ribs good is what these are.

  43. 5 stars
    Okay… I don’t want any trouble.. just pass over that entire pot and no one will get hurt here. LOL! I LOVE baked beans… you just made my day. :) I could just stick my face in that photo of the beans in the pot… really drool worthy. :)

  44. Ever summer I think about making baked beans, and it never happens. After seeing these beans it’s finally happening!

  45. You know what — i have the same folder. Ahhhh!!

  46. Those are some beautiful baked beans!

  47. You’ve definitely got my attention, Georgia! I love baked beans and 30 minutes is definitely more up my alley than anything that requires soaking and simmering for hours. It certainly looks delicious. I’ll have to tag this for when I want to impress guests at a future bbq!

  48. The baked beans look awesome.

    Re: the folder – some recipes just don’t turn out. I have got plenty of those!

  49. oooh, how good does this look Georgia. I loved baked beans and adding some sweet maple and bourbon would taste fantastic. Very Nola!

  50. Oh, kitchen failures, I know ye well ;) It is so frustrating to work on something, only to have it be a total disaster! Now, obviously, this is a huge success! Your photography skills even make it look totally irresistible – not easy with baked beans! :)

  51. 5 stars
    I love these baked beans, one of my favorite side dishes although I could easily eat them as a main dish too. So yummy, great recipe!

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