Healthier Barbecue "Baked" Beans

baked beans

Alice Day / StockFood Creative / Getty Images

Total Time: 60 min
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 50 min
Servings: 6 (about 1/2 cup each)

Nutrition Highlights (per serving)

173 calories
5g fat
25g carbs
8g protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 (about 1/2 cup each)
Amount per serving  
Calories 173
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 502mg 22%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 4g  
Includes 0g Added Sugars 0%
Protein 8g  
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 85mg 7%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 695mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

This barbecue "baked" beans recipe made with a DIY low-carb BBQ sauce is healthier than the classic version. It tastes just as good and doesn't contain any added sugars.

Current USDA dietary guidelines advise limiting your intake of added sugars to less than 10% of daily calories for optimal long-term health. And beans are recommended as part of a healthy, balanced diet since they're high in fiber and other important nutrients.

As a quick and easy version of traditional slow-cooked baked beans, this simple recipe uses canned beans and takes only 15 to 20 minutes of simmering on the stove. That means you'll have baked beans ready to go when you need them—whether served as a side or on their own with some cornbread.​

Ingredients

Preparation

  1. Sauté the finely chopped onion in olive oil until soft.

  2. Add the beans and barbecue sauce.

  3. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes.

  4. Serve warm or store in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop when you're ready to serve.

Variations and Substitutions

Many baked bean recipes call for additions such as a dash of cinnamon, a small dollop of mustard, or a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Depending on your dietary preferences, many people enjoy a small spoonful of brown sugar stirred into a pot of simmering baked beans. Use your best judgment when adding more flavor and spice, especially if you're watching your sugar intake.

Cooking and Serving Tips

  • Make ahead: You'll save even more time if you make the barbecue sauce a day or two in advance (which takes 20 to 30 minutes).
  • Make in bulk: Double the recipe and bring a big batch to your next potluck cookout or serve them as a side if you're hosting a barbecue of your own. Leftover baked beans can be refrigerated for up to a week.

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1 Source
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Ninth Edition. December 2020.

By Team Verywell Fit
At Verywell Fit, we are dedicated to empowering you with the best answers to your most pressing questions, from healthy eating to exercise and everything in between.