Over the years being at trade shows or BBQ events we get asked about our version of BBQ Pit Beans. There was a recipe published in BBQ Brian’s cookbook called Grilling With House of Q and it really is a good one. But there’s a secret to making great beans…

Secret to Great Tasting BBQ Beans

There are two tips to point out when making beans. The first is to make them BBQ. That is, beans are best by adding BBQ ingredients. This starts off with molasses and tomato paste along with lot’s of aromatic vegetables like onions and garlic. From there you can add BBQ rubs or seasonings and of course BBQ sauce. Does it matter which sauce and how much? Not really…. it all depends on you. Some may like the beans saucy while others want dry. Of course some might like them spicy while other eaters want them more neutral or even bland. It all depends.

The second tip to share is perfect for cooking pit beans. If you have a bunch of sauce bottles in the fridge and for whatever reason you keep them even though there isn’t enough to cook most meals with… use those in your beans! Empty out your fridge and drain all of those partial jars into your pit beans. This could be an absolute hit for flavour especially if you add strong flavours in the first step like sautéed onions, garlic and herbs. We guess this is why some people call pit beans a “kitchen sink” recipe because you never know what you are going to get in your beans!

BBQ Beans

Print Recipe

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Oven, Smoker

HoQ Product Apple Butter BBQ Sauce, House Rub, Rock’n Red 2.0, Sugar & Spice BBQ Sauce

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Author House of Q

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 Tbsp sea salt or kosher salt
• 2 to 4 cans brown beans or a mix of your favourite beans, drained and rinsed (about 4 cups in total)
• 1/2 cup molasses blackstrap is preferred but any kind will do
• 2 Tbsp House of Q House Rub
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 to 1 cup House of Q Apple Butter BBQ Sauce or Sugar and Spice BBQ Sauce or your favourite sauce
• 2 to 3 Tbsp tomato paste

Instructions

• Prepare your smoker or your grill for smoking, on low to medium heat. On your stovetop or your grill side-burner, place a Dutch oven or a roasting pan on low heat and pour in the oil. Add the onions and salt, and sauté until the onions are soft. Stir in the beans, molasses, rub, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce and tomato paste, and mix thoroughly. Place in your smoker uncovered, and smoke for 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Once the sauce has become hot and thick, either cover the beans and continue to cook, or remove them from the smoker and serve.

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