This is a classic, hearty BBQ side dish that goes with just about anything. The sweet and tangy flavor pairs perfectly with rich, fatty meats and grilled favorites, making these beans a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
At a Glance
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Total Time
2 hours 15 minutes
Serves
8–10
Ingredients
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 white onion
- 8–10 slices bacon
- 2 (15 oz) cans black beans
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup mustard
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- BBQ seasoning (store-bought or homemade, recipe below)
Homemade BBQ Seasoning (optional)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium heat. An enameled cast iron Dutch oven works great, but any large pot will do.
- Dice the bacon into small pieces, add it to the pot, and cook until rendered and lightly crisp.
- While the bacon cooks, dice the onion and bell pepper. If using the homemade BBQ seasoning, mix it together now.
- Remove the cooked bacon from the pot and set aside, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pot.
- Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the bacon fat and cook for about 10 minutes, until softened.
- Drain the liquid from the diced tomatoes and add them to the pot.
- Drain and rinse the black beans, then add them to the pot and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Add the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, mustard, honey, and 2–3 tablespoons of BBQ seasoning.
- Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, add the cooked bacon back to the pot.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the beans simmer uncovered for 1–2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Pro Tips
- Start by adding only half of the apple cider vinegar. Once the beans are finished cooking, taste and add more vinegar if needed to dial in the sweet-and-tangy balance.
- Skip the diced tomatoes if you prefer a thicker bean mixture.
- Red beans work great, or mix and match different beans for extra texture.
