Slow Cooker Root Beer Baked Beans
I have been on a little bit of a slow cooker bender recently. Between the weather cooling off and making way for heartier dinners, and my desire to minimize meal prep as much as possible, I’ve been doing quite a bit of experimenting with slow cooker recipes. I’ve been wanting to give baked beans a try since my sister made them to take to my grandparents back on Father’s Day. I imagined that slow cooking baked beans for a looooong time could only create a fantastic outcome. I also wanted to include root beer, because, well, I love root beer and the spicy flavor goes great with the baked beans. This recipe takes quite a bit longer than your average slow cooker recipes, but it’s all hands-off, and the result is absolutely worth it!
I love that these baked beans are sweet with a little bit of spice and smokiness. The flavor and consistency are both fantastic, and the ease of preparation can’t be beat. I made an awesome Boston baked beans recipe a few summers ago, but it’s not nearly as hands-off as this one.
Keep in mind that slow cookers can vary in how hot they run, so the uncovered time can definitely vary from machine to machine, also dependent on how thick you’d like the final product to be.
If you’re a fellow slow cooker-lover, stay tuned for a great giveaway tomorrow – Crock-Pot just came out with an ah-mazing new slow cooker and I’m giving one away!
One year ago: Maple-Almond Granola with Dried Fruit
Two years ago: Pumpkin-Doughnut Muffins
Four years ago: Garlic Knots
Five years ago: Marshmallow Crunch Brownie Bars
Six years ago: Lavash Crackers
Seven years ago: Ina’s Outrageous Brownies
Slow Cooker Root Beer Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 15 ounce (425.24 g) can baked beans
- 15 ounce (425.24 g) can chili beans
- 15 ounce (425.24 g) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 16 ounces (453.59 g) bacon, cooked and diced
- 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
- ½ cup (143 g) barbecue sauce
- â…“ cup (112.33 g) molasses
- â…“ cup (73.33 g) light brown sugar
- â…“ cup (0.02 ml) maple syrup
- ¼ cup (63.75 ml) white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 12 ounce (340.2 ml) bottle root beer (NOT diet)
Instructions
- In a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker, stir together all of the ingredients. Cook on low for 12 hours.
- Remove the lid and continue to cook for an additional 4 hours, or until the consistency reaches the thickness you desire. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
you say these can be refrigerated for up to 4 days, can they be frozen?
Michelle,
Would you recommend a particular brand or style of barbecue sauce to use? There’s such a variance in sweetness/smokiness to different brands that I wouldn’t want to pick one that throws the flavor too far in one direction.Â
Doubling the recipe do I need to cook longer?
Hi Patty, I think you should be fine with the original bake time.
Two questions:
1. Can this recipe be made in a 6.5 Qt. Crock Pot with the same amount of ingredients or does the time need to be scaled back?
2. Have you ever done this recipe in a regular oven. If so, at what temp and for how long?
Thanks so much.
Hi Cathy,
1. Yes, you can use a 6.5 quart without making any other adjustments.
2. I have not tried making this in the oven.
Making these very soon for Christmas Eve…do I drain the beans?
Hi Kim, Just the cannellini beans. Enjoy!
Should the cannellini beans be drained and rinsed, or put in straight from the can as is? Thanks.
Hi Marika, Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t specify that!
Would you make any adjustments to make this vegetarian, other than omitting the bacon and making sure the Worcestershire is vegetarian? thanks!
Hi Barbara, I think that would be it!
thanks for a great recipe. Put it in the crock pot last night (minus the bacon) and had it for a family gathering today. Everyone loved it. It did take 4 + hours lid off to tighten up the sauce.
Hi Michelle,
This is a recipe I definitely want to try. I love baked beans. Did you use just plain baked beans? Masterpiece makes some great baked beans with bacon, do you think they would work, or should I just stick with plain pork and beans?
Thanks,
Rocky
Hi Rocky, I used plain, but I think the version with bacon would be great!
Hi Michelle,
Just wanted to get back to you and tell you your recipe for root beer baked beans was a home-run!! Your site has some great recipes too!!
I want to make this recipe this weekend and just want to clarify the cooking time.
12 hours on low, then another 4 hours w/o the lid on. Can you tell me how you plan that out? Cook all night, finish in the am, then reheat for dinner? Thank you.
It all depends on when you want to serve it, really. If it’s for dinner, you could throw it in late in the evening before going to bed, then do the 12 hours + 4 hours and have it be ready for an early dinner, or do it whenever is convenient, and leave it on “warm” until ready to serve.
Tried this recipe over the weekend. Thumbs up! this recipe is a keeper!
The recipe looks great, but i need some clarification. The first ingredient is a can of baked beans…does that mean the type of beans that many people use in making baked beans (i dont know what type that is) OR if it something like a can of Heinz Vegetarian baked beans that comes prepared in a sauce. The other is the can of chili beans…would the can usually say chili beans? i have never seen such a can of beans, but if you would kindly be more specific as to what those chili beans are, it would help me considerably. Things that may be second hand for you since you are so used to make the recipe are a blind item to others. Thank you in advance.
Hi Faleen, The baked beans are a can of baked beans in a sauce. The chili beans are labeled “chili beans” and also are canned in a sauce. I hope that helps!
Thank you so much for clarification and so rapidly….it is very much appreciated….am not at all opposed to ‘varying’ recipes from time to time, but prefer the first time around to go precisely by the recipe and then see if i want to alter it at all….i am so unfamiliar with beans, that i wanted to make certain i was understanding the specific ones…this looks like a wonderful recipe so i thank you and i do look forward to trying it.
I have a root beer addiction. I am helpless against the fact that this recipe has root beer in it and is made with a slow cooker, my favorite kitchen tool. I’d be crazy not to try this recipe.
Got my crock-pot working it’s magic on these right now! Looked so good I couldn’t wait to make them!
I am sure the caramel flavor in the root beer did an amazing job on these beans! It is getting to be slow cooker weather for sure!
I want a bowl of this!
Don’t know that I’ve ever had baked beans, or where I could find root beer over here in Sweden, but the dish looks so delicious that I’d be willing to look up the necessary info :)
These look incredible, love the flavoring!!
Love me some baked beans! And with root beer?? I gotta try these!
I think these sound fabulous! What kind of canned “baked beans” do you use?
Hi Emily, I used Nature’s Basket, which is an organic store brand at Giant Eagle, the main supermarket chain here in Pittsburgh.
Oooh I love that you used root beer in these baked beans… I bet the flavors are outstanding!!
I’m always looking for something new, easy, filling, and relatively cheap and healthy for my 4 big boys, so this is perfect. I have everything but the root beer, so I will have this in the crock pot bright and early tomorrow morning. That will give me time to make homemade rolls and something yummy for dessert. Thanks!!
Just wondering why diet root beer can’t be used…
Because you want the real sugars added to the recipe, not the artificial sweeteners.
I love making homemade baked beans but have never thought of making them in the crock pot! These sound fabulous :)
I love homemade baked beans but usually do them in the oven and never have I added root beer. Your beans look scrumptious and I’m ready to give this recipe a try.
I love making baked beans in my slow cooker and have boozed them up with bourbon, but I love the root beer idea. I bet the depth of flavor is just awesome! Pinned!
Oh my bourbon! That sounds really good too. Maybe a combo of bourbon and root beer?