Savory Dr Pepper BBQ Baked Beans Crockpot Recipe Easy and Perfect
A unique and flavorful baked beans recipe featuring Dr Pepper for a sweet and smoky twist, slow-cooked in a crockpot for tender, rich results. Perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and easy family meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 to 6 hours (slow cooker low) or 2 to 3 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker low) or 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 (28 oz) cans baked beans (preferably Bush’s Original Baked Beans)
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup Dr Pepper soda
- ½ cup BBQ sauce (smoky variety, e.g., Sweet Baby Ray’s)
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook until crisp, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving rendered fat in the pan.
- Add diced onion to the bacon fat and cook over medium heat until translucent and softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- In the crockpot, combine baked beans, black beans, cooked bacon, sautéed onions, and garlic.
- Pour in Dr Pepper, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Gently stir to combine all ingredients. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting carefully due to salty ingredients.
- Cover crockpot and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until sauce thickens and beans are tender.
- Before serving, stir beans well to distribute sauce evenly. If sauce is too thin, cook uncovered on high for an additional 15-30 minutes to reduce.
Notes
Brown the bacon before adding to crockpot for best flavor and texture. Use good quality BBQ sauce to balance sweetness and smokiness. Avoid stirring too roughly to prevent beans from breaking down. If sauce is thin at the end, cook uncovered on high to thicken. Can substitute turkey bacon for lighter option or omit bacon for vegetarian version using smoked paprika or liquid smoke.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About ½ cup per serv
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 7
- Protein: 11
Keywords: Dr Pepper baked beans, BBQ baked beans, crockpot baked beans, slow cooker side dish, savory baked beans, easy BBQ side, potluck recipe