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BBQ black beans in a skillet with a spoon.
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Barbecue Black Beans

Smoky, tangy BBQ black beans made on the stovetop with bacon, canned beans, and a quick homemade sauce with pantry staples. An easy, flavor-packed side dish for any cookout or weeknight dinner.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bbq black beans
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Dahn Boquist

Ingredients

For the Base

  • 6 strips thick-cut bacon diced
  • 1 yellow onion finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chipotle powder optional

For the BBQ-style sauce

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
  • ¼ cup water or more to thin as needed

Final addition

  • 4 (15 ounce) can canned black beans drained

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the diced bacon until browned and crisp. Leave the bacon bits and rendered fat in the pot.
    Cooking bacon in a skillet.
  • Add the chopped onion to the bacon fat and cook until softened and golden, about 7–8 minutes. Stir in the garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, and chipotle powder (if using), and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
    Adding onions to a skillet with bacon.
  • Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire, pepper, salt, and water. Simmer the sauce for 3 to 5 minutes.
    Adding ingredients for bbq sauce to a pan with onions and bacon.
  • Stir in the drained black beans. Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and clings to the beans. Add more water if needed for desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
    Stirring black beans into homemade bbq sauce.

Notes

Adjust the consistency: If the sauce thickens too much, stir in a splash of water. For a thicker texture, simmer a bit longer to reduce.
Spice level: The chipotle powder adds mild heat. For more kick, toss in your favorite hot sauce. Or leave it out if you prefer things mild.
If you need this recipe to be gluten free, double check the ingredient labels on your pantry staples. 
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 443IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
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