crock pot baked beans in a cast iron skillet

Summer is officially here! Bring on brat burgers, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad (ALL THE SALADS!) corn on the cob, Dirt Cake, and Crock Pot Baked Beans. No summer get together is complete without baked beans and cooking them in the crock pot has been a total revelation for me!

There is no way I’m turning the oven on to bake my standard baked bean recipe for 2 hours in this weather – not when I can contain the heat in a crock pot and let it do the cooking for me.

overhead photo of crock pot baked beans in a cast iron skillet

This baked bean recipe is basically the crock pot version of my Mom famous Baked Beans, aka Judy’s Baked Beans. (Although her name is Shirley. Right.) It’s extra meaty, calling for both Polish Kielbasa (one of my love languages,) and bacon, and lightly sweetened with brown sugar. The mix of savory and sweet is SO good!

This recipe is also great for a crowd because it makes a ton of baked beans and is portable. Slow cook then take to a friend’s house for a BBQ, or transfer straight from the base to the table at your own get-together. No matter what, you’ll love the rich and sassy, perfectly sweet and tangy taste of these delicious and summery baked beans!

ingredients for baked beans in a crock pot

How to Make This Recipe

Start by adding 14oz gluten-free Polish Kielbasa (I like Johnsonville brand which is GF,) and 4 slices bacon that have been chopped to a large skillet with 1 large shallot or 1 small onion that’s been chopped. Turn the heat to medium then saute until the bacon is cooked through but not super crisp, 10-12 minutes.

bacon and kielbasa sauting in a skillet

Pour everything (bacon fat and all – hello, flavor!) into the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot then add two 28oz cans baked beans, 1/4 cup ketchup, 2 Tablespoons brown sugar (or more if you like your baked beans super sweet,) and 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce then stir everything to combine. You can do this a day ahead of time so all you have to do is place the crock into the base and turn it on the day you’re going to eat. Great time saver!

ingredients for baked beans in a crock pot

I’ve liked Bush’s Best Vegetarian Baked Beans for years and years. Obviously, I’m not vegetarian, but this particular brand/variety is gluten-free and not tooth-achingly sweet. That said, you can use whatever you like.

Crock-Pot-Baked-Beans-iowagirleats-06

Place a lid on top of the crock pot then cook on low for six hours. Remove the lid to let the liquid thicken up for 10 minutes or so then scoop and serve with all your cookout favorites. Hope you enjoy this easy summer side dish!

crock pot baked beans in a cast iron skillet

Crock Pot Baked Beans

Description

Crock Pot Baked Beans is a rich, sassy, and super simple crock pot recipe that's sure to become a summertime side dish staple at your house!

Ingredients

serves 10-12

  • 14oz Polish Kielbasa, quartered then chopped
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 large shallot or 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2, 28oz cans Bush’s Best Vegetarian Baked Beans (or your favorite brand/variety)
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar (or more if you like your baked beans super sweet)
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions

  1. Add kielbasa, bacon, and shallot (or onion) to an unheated, large skillet then place over medium heat. Saute until bacon is cooked through but not too crispy, 10-12 minutes, then transfer mixture to a 6 quart crock pot. Add remaining ingredients then stir to combine.
  2. Cook on low for 6 hours then remove crock pot lid to allow liquid to thicken up for 10 minutes, and then serve.

Notes

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

Photo collage of crock pot baked beans