This update on an American classic is a sweet and spicy twist on a tradition. With its rich, smoky flavor and tender beans, Barbecue Baked Beans have been a staple at summer holidays, family gatherings, barbecues, and potlucks for generations. Whether you’re looking to recreate a cherished family recipe or you simply want to try your hand at this beloved comfort food, my Jalapeño Barbecue Baked Beans recipe is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and let’s get cooking!
A Bit Of Baked Beans History
I had to emphasize these are American Baked Beans because the English also have a baked bean tradition. But their tradition started from us. Before there were MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) the OG portable, war-time food was beans in a can. The U.S. military brought these beans-in-a-can (Navy Beans) to the U.K. during World War II. Since America and Europe were in struggle mode, to jazz the bland beans up, they added tomato paste and Worchishire Sauce. After the war, when we were no longer rationing food and ingredients, Americans returned to making our beans full of delicious goodness. England continued with the tradition that they were first introduced.
A Little Further Back
Long before America was America, Baked Beans have been around. Beans are native to The Americas. They’re part of the 3 sisters (corn, beans, squash) and an integral part of a Native American agricultural process. When grown together, the corn serves as a bean pole for the beans to climb. The Molasses which is an essential ingredient in Boston Baked Beans was a critical part of the 18th-century transatlantic slave trade. Boston imported molasses harvested by enslaved Africans in the Caribbean to manufacture and export Rum. The Rum would be used to sedate and kidnap Africans or for trade for Africans to enslave. The molasses used in beans and rum made Boston’s economy dependent on slavery.
Today, you’ll find the Barbecue Baked Beans at all the best tailgates and cookouts. No summer holiday — Memorial Day, Independence Day, Juneteenth, and Labor Day— is complete without these baked beans.
American Jalapeno Barbecue Baked Beans
Ingredients
Two cans of baked beans
One white onion
One green pepper
Barbecue sauce
Yellow mustard or Dijon
Brown sugar
1 pound of ground beef
Two jalapeños
And a half bulb of garlic
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a baking dish, add your beans, barbecue sauce, mustard, brown sugar, & 1 Jalapeño. set aside
In a skillet on the stove, brown the ground beef until cooked through.
Strain the beef from the pan and transfer to the beans but maintain the grease.
In the same grease left by the beef, sauté diced onion, green peppers, and garlic until tender.
Scoop the veggies into the beans and mix.
Introduce the baking dish to the oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until bubbly.
Remove from the oven, garnish with Jalapeno slices to let your guests know they can expect a little spice. Serve warm as a side dish with deviled eggs, potato salad, and barbecued meat.