Slow Cooker Smoky Beans with Bacon—Rich, Hearty & Delicious
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These Slow Cooker Smoky Beans with Bacon are the ultimate comfort food—smoky, savory, and slow-cooked to perfection!
Packed with tender beans, bacon, and a rich tomato-molasses sauce, this dish is cozy, filling, and budget-friendly. It’s perfect for chilly nights, family dinners, or feeding a hungry crowd.
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Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Smoky Beans with Bacon Recipe
- Rich, smoky flavor from bacon, molasses, and BBQ sauce.
- Easy prep—just layer ingredients and let the slow cooker do the work.
- Budget-friendly comfort food that feeds a crowd.
- Versatile dish—serve as a main with bread or as a hearty side.
- Perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or cozy weekends at home.
Looking for more hearty comfort food? Dive into our collection of Slow Cooker Recipes on The Purple Pumpkin Blog!
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Beans with Bacon & Tomatoes
The ingredients and tools for this recipe are conveniently linked to online retailers, including Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and Walmart. The quantities are in the recipe card.
- Protein: Thick-Cut Bacon or Lardons
- Fresh Produce: Onion, Cherry Tomatoes
- Pantry: Salt, Black Pepper
- Tomato Paste—also known as Tomato Purée.
- BBQ Sauce—use your favorite brand.
- Molasses—Known as Black Treacle in the UK.
- Brown Sugar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Dijon Mustard
The complete ingredient list, along with their measurements, is provided on the recipe card. The Purple Pumpkin Blog uses both cups and weighted measurements in its recipes, making American cups and kitchen food scales valuable tools for trying all the recipes. We provide measurements in US customary, imperial, and metric units. Still, it’s essential to note that while you can combine cup measurements with weighted measures, never mix US customary/imperial units (pounds, ounces, pints, etc.) with metric units (kilograms, grams, liters, etc.).
How Do I Make Slow Cooker Beans with Bacon?
You’ll love how simple it is to layer the ingredients and let the slow cooker do all the work for these smoky beans with bacon.
Check out the recipe card below—you can print or save it for later—and don’t forget to leave a star rating!
Then, continue scrolling for more food pairings and more info about this recipe.
Slow Cooker Smoky Beans with Bacon
Ingredients
- ½ lb thick-cut bacon finely diced
- ½ lb dried white beans rinsed and soaked overnight
- 1 onion finely diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 cups water
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Instructions
- Sort through the dried beans, removing any shriveled ones or debris, then rinse under cool water.
- Place beans in a large bowl, cover with water (twice their depth), and soak overnight in the fridge. Drain in the morning.
- Spread the diced bacon on the bottom of your slow cooker. Layer the soaked beans over the bacon, followed by the onion and cherry tomatoes. Do not stir.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the water, tomato paste, BBQ sauce, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the beans—again, do not stir. Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours, until beans are tender and creamy.
- Stir well, then season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Tips
- Don’t add salt until after cooking—salting beans too early can prevent them from softening.
- For a spicier kick, stir in some chili flakes or smoked paprika before serving.
Substitutions
- Swap bacon for smoked sausage or pancetta.
- Use canned beans if you’re short on time—reduce the cooking time to 4–5 hours.
Leftovers
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Freezing
- This dish freezes well. Cool completely, portion into freezer-safe containers, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is always approximate and will depend on the quality of ingredients used and serving sizes. If you need exact calories and macros, please do your own calculations.
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Pair These Smoky Beans With…
Round out your meal with these delicious recipes that perfectly complement the rich, smoky flavor of the beans:
- Cheesy Cornbread—a classic side that’s perfect for soaking up all that sauce.
- Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs with Dark Cherry BBQ Sauce—smoky, sticky ribs that pair like a dream with beans.
- Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders with Coleslaw—a hearty main to serve alongside beans as a side dish.
- Comforting Creamy Instant Pot Mashed Red Potatoes—creamy and comforting, the perfect base for beans.
- Baked Potato Skins with BBQ Chicken & Caramelized Onions—a fun, flavorful partner for a smoky bean feast.
Ready to Serve Up Comfort?
Slow Cooker Smoky Beans with Bacon are rich, hearty, and full of smoky-sweet flavor—perfect for cozy fall dinners, weekend gatherings, or as a hearty side at a BBQ.
This easy slow cooker recipe proves that big flavor doesn’t need a lot of fuss—just layer, set, and let the magic happen.
Don’t forget to ♥ save this recipe and share it with fellow foodies! And if you give it a try, we’d love to hear how it went—leave a comment or tag us in your creations.
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