The best ever crock pot baked beans with bacon and cheese. Fabulous flavor, easy to make - full of smoky bacon and melted cheese - you'll love this baked beans recipe! This recipe is hugely popular at potlucks and backyard bbq's!

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Why You'll Love This Crock Pot Baked Beans Recipe
Fabulous flavor. Seriously. There is the perfect combination of salty, sweet, smoky, and even slightly tangy - the texture from the beans, onion, bacon, and cheese is perfection.
Easy to make. Cook the bacon, saute the vegetables for a few minutes to give them a head start, or jump it all in. Right before serving, add the cheese.
Perfect for meal prepping and for freezing! Assemble the beans ahead, eat what you can then freeze the rest. It freezes and reheats well!
Ingredients For Crock Pot Baked Beans with Bacon and Cheese
Here are the ingredients you will need to make these cheesy crock pot baked beans with bacon:

- Onion: use a white or yellow onion.
- Green Bell Pepper
- Ketchup
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Canned Pork and Beans: be sure not to drain any of the sauce.
- Canned Chili Beans: same, use the beans and the sauce - there is a ton of flavor in chili beans.
- Brown Sugar
- Bacon: I used a hickory smoked bacon to add a smoky flavor to the beans.
- Barbecue Sauce: use any favorite sweeter barbecue sauce, (for test purposes, I used Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ Sauce)
- Cheddar Cheese
- Kidney Beans: drain and rinse the beans. Dark or light kidney beans may be used.
- Lima Beans: drain and rinse the beans. Butter beans make a great substitution too!
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
How To Make Baked Beans with Bacon in Crock Pot
Here's how to make this easy crock pot baked beans recipe:

1. Cook bacon until crisp. Set aside. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat.

2. Optional: cook the onion and bell pepper in the bacon fat until a little color is achieved and the onions have started to soften. Add vegetables and bacon fat to the slow cooker.

3. Add all ingredients to the crockpot except the cheese cubes. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours - or until the onions soften (note: if you didn't soften in a skillet, they will take a few hours longer).

4. About 30 minutes before serving stir in the cheese cubes.
Hint: you can skip the step of cooking the onion and peppers, but be sure to add a couple of hours extra for the onions to cook.
What To Serve with Crock Pot Bacon Beans
There are several ways you can serve your delicious crock pot baked beans!
Garnish with fresh herbs or sliced green onion for a little color.
Meal idea! Serve crock pot pulled chicken sandwiches or sloppy joes with coleslaw and a side of these delicious beans.
Serve baked beans with:
- Cornbread or biscuits
- Coleslaw
- Macaroni and cheese
- Pulled pork or pulled chicken
- Grilled or roasted meat
- Roasted or steamed vegetables
- Fresh green salad
Variations
Here are some suggestions for customizing your crock pot baked beans with bacon and cheese:
- For a smoky taste, add a teaspoon of liquid smoke.
- Vary the flavor with different types of bacon. Use hickory smoked, maple bacon, and so on.
- Add maple syrup for more maple flavor and sweetness. Molasses also makes a great sweetener!
- Increase the sweetness with additional brown sugar.
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of bourbon can be added for that "brown sugar bourbon taste"
- Add spice with red pepper flakes.
- Add even more color and texture with a variety of beans.
Slow Cooker Tips
Tip #1: The bacon can be cooked in a separate skillet or in a crock pot that has a browning function.
Tip #2: The vegetables can be added raw to the pot but you can coax some additional flavor out of them by sauteeing and caramelizing in the bacon fat. If you're short on time skip this step and cook the beans longer 6 to 8 hours or until the onions are tender.
Tip #3: This recipe can easily be halved, but since you are going through the effort, I suggest making the full recipe and freezing into smaller portions. 😉
Pin this pin to Pinterest and save for later! 🙂

FAQ's
Let the beans cool completely then transfer to an airtight container. Store in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat in a saucepan on low heat, stirring frequently. Or, microwave portions on 50% until heated through. A crock pot is also a great way to reheat beans - place in the cooker, cover, and heat on low until the desired temperature is reached.
Yes, baked beans can be frozen. Once the baked beans are cooled, transfer them to a freezer safe container, leaving at least 1" of head space at the top. Cover and freeze up to 4 months.
Yes! You can definitely make baked beans in a crock pot. In fact, using a crock pot is one of the most convenient and easy ways to prepare them.
To make baked beans in a crock pot, combine canned or cooked beans with ingredients like cooked bacon, onions, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and spices in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours to blend the flavor.
More Crock Pot Side Dishes
- Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese Crock Pot Recipe
- Italian-Style Slow Cooker Vegetable Casserole
- Crockpot Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese and Sour Cream
📖 Recipe

Crock Pot Baked Beans with Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounces bacon (chopped; I used hickory smoked flavor)
- 1 cup onion (chopped)
- ½ cup green bell pepper (chopped)
- 2 (15-ounce) cans pork and beans (do not drain)
- 1 (15-ounce) can chili beans (do not drain)
- 1 (15-ounce) can lima beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
- ¾ cup barbeque sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays Honey Barbecue Sauce)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese (cut into 1" cubes)
Instructions
- In a skillet, or a crock pot that has a browning function, cook the bacon over medium heat until just turning crispy. Removed the bacon with a slotted spoon and set on a paper towel, then drain all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat.
- In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add the onion and bell pepper. Cook until they start to get a bit of color and just getting soft. Transfer vegetables and all juices to the crock pot.
- Add the cooked bacon and all remaining ingredients, except the cheese, to the pot. Stir. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. (Note: if you skipped cooking the onions and bell pepper, add 2 hours or more for the onions to soften).
- About 30 minutes before serving, stir in the cheese cubes. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
- NOTES: bacon and vegetables can be cooked in a skillet or a crock pot with a browning function.
- VARIATIONS: Adjust any seasoning to taste. 1 to 2 tbsp. of bourbon may be added. Make them spicy with hot sauce or red pepper flakes.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: For extra color garnish with sliced green onion or chives.
Nutrition
© 2023 Slow Cooked Eats
Jen says
Seriously the BEST baked beans! But shhhh, don't tell my husband since they're even better than his famous beans 😉
slowcookedeats says
Your secret is safe with me! lol 😉 So happy you loved the beans!