A traditional BBQ side dish, pit beans have the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors.
They provide strong depth to any BBQ meal and taste absolutely amazing served with brisket, pulled pork, or ribs. The flavors of these beans are allowed to express, thanks to the long cook time in the smoker. These beans improve any BBQ dish when combined with the proper amounts of mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and BBQ sauce, as well as smoky bacon or sausage.
Today, we will share our simple recipe for pit beans.
Ingredients:
- 2 cans of baked beans (approximately 28 ounces each)
- 1 pound/a pack of diced bacon or smoked sausage
- 1 medium white onion
- 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
- Half a garlic bulb, peeled and diced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, salt
- 1/4 cup diced bell peppers (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon chilli powder (optional for added spice). We also like Chinese 5-spice
- Butter
Instructions:
1. Set the temperature of your grill or smoker to 225°F.
2. Brown and crisp the chopped bacon or sausage in a large pan over medium heat. Take it out and put it aside.
3. Cook down the chopped onion and bell peppers (if using) in the same skillet for approximately five minutes, or until they are soft and clear. Add garlic and on a low heat, allow to brown.
4. Add your other ingredients to the pan and allow to simmer for 10 – 15 minutes.
5. Transfer the mixture to an aluminum tray.
6. Put the pan in the smoker, add a generous pat (or two) of butter on top, and stir it halfway through around an hour of smoking.
7. Your pit beans side dish is ready to be served!
Everyone has their own variation of this dish. You can try these alternative options out if you get bored of trying out the same pit beans with BBQ.
Smoky Bacon and Sausage with Pit Beans:
This variation of pit beans from HeyGrill. Hey has a deep, savory flavor profile because of the crunchy bacon and smoky sausage.
Vegetarian BBQ Pit Beans:
With no meat, this vegetarian version from Vanilla and Bean has all the smoky flavor of classic pit beans. While sautéed veggies like bell peppers and mushrooms add texture and umami, liquid smoke and smoked paprika bring the smoky flavor.
Sweet and Spicy Pit Beans with Jalapeños:
Use of jalapeños and cayenne pepper gives this version of pit beans from CrumbSnatched a powerful kick for anyone who likes a little spice.
Looking for Texas BBQ catering in Kent? Contact us for authentic smoked meats and expert service.
