Root Beer Baked Beans 🍺🥓

By: Rabia

Sweet, smoky, and tangy baked beans with a root beer twist — the perfect side dish for barbecues, cookouts, and family gatherings.

🥘 Recipe Card

Servings & Timing

  • Yield: 6–8 servings

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes

  • Cook Time: 1 hour

  • Total Time: 1 hr 10 min

Dietary Badges:

  • Comfort Food

  • BBQ Side

  • Family-Friendly

✅ Ingredients

4 slices bacon, chopped

  • 1 small onion, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 3 cans (15 oz each) pork & beans (or baked beans), drained slightly

  • ¾ cup root beer (not diet)

  • ½ cup ketchup

  • ¼ cup brown sugar

  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard (or Dijon for a kick)

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • ½ tsp chili powder (optional, for heat)

  • Salt & pepper, to taste

📖 Instructions

  1. Cook bacon & aromatics: In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove and set aside, leaving 1 tbsp drippings in pan. Sauté onion until softened, then add garlic and cook 1 minute.

  2. Combine beans & sauce: Stir in beans, root beer, ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, paprika, and chili powder. Mix well. Add bacon back in.

  3. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer pan to oven and bake uncovered for 45–55 minutes, stirring once or twice, until sauce is thickened and caramelized.

  4. Serve: Let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or extra bacon bits if desired.

🔑 Notes

  • Root beer gives a caramel-like sweetness — don’t use diet, it won’t caramelize properly.

  • Adjust sugar to taste (some root beers are sweeter than others).

  • For stovetop version: Simmer gently for 30–40 minutes, stirring often, until sauce thickens.

Recommended  Blueberry Cream Cheese Frosting

🌟 Variations

  • Meaty: Add ½ lb cooked ground beef or sausage for a heartier dish.

  • Spicy: Add diced jalapeños or a splash of hot sauce.

  • Smokier: Stir in 1 tsp liquid smoke or use hickory-smoked bacon.

  • Vegan: Skip bacon, use olive oil, and canned vegetarian beans.

❄️ Storage

  • Fridge: Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.

  • Freezer: Freeze cooled beans in bags or containers for up to 2 months. Reheat on stovetop with a splash of water.

💌 Final Notes

These Root Beer Baked Beans are a fun twist on a classic BBQ side dish — rich, sweet, tangy, and smoky all at once. They pair perfectly with grilled ribs, burgers, or pulled pork.

Rabia
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