Smoky Skillet BBQ Baked Beans (Vegan Baked Beans)

Vegan Baked Beans are a summertime staple! This delicious side dish is an essential part of every good BBQ!

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Ever since first making their vegan Pulled BBQ Carrots several years ago, I’ve been a big fan of the mother daughter team behind the blog Veganosity!  Their recipes are delicious, simple, and use easy to find ingredients.  Recently they debuted their new cookbook Great Vegan BBQ Without a Grill.  From loaded veggie burgers to vegan baked beans, pulled jackfruit to homemade bratwurst, and everything in between, this book has all of your BBQ needs covered….without having to use an actual grill!  Whether you live in the city and don’t have space for a grill, or there is a monsoon outside in June (ahem, I’m looking at you, Seattle), or you just don’t feel like firing up the grill for dinner, this book is perfect for you!

Great Vegan BBQ Without a Grill

The book is gorgeous.  Full page, full color pictures.  Clear layout.  Notes about ingredients and cooking tools.  It’s really user friendly, divided into seven chapters ranging from Meat-Free BBQ to Satisfy Meat Eaters all the way to Keeping It Saucy: BBQ Sauces and Rubs.  The authors, Linda and Alex, also talk about different types of BBQ, like Texas, North Carolina, and even Tennessee!  All of the recipes are suitable for cooking indoors, using grill pans and cast iron skillets on the stovetop and oven, though you can totally make these recipes on the grill too, if you’d like!

Jonny’s Favorite!

Jonny is especially enamored with this cookbook.  At age 4, he’s learning about his letters, and loves to “read” cookbooks with me.  When this one arrived in the mail I explained to him that it was about grilling inside.  He looked at me with a look of terror on his face, and said “But Mommy, you would burn your house up!”  This guy is funny!  He’s particularly enamored with the Wisconsin-Style Grilled Bratwurst recipe, specifically because he thinks one of the swooshes of mustard looks like a J.  He says “Look Mom, it’s a J for Jonny!  Let’s make this one!”  So we will.  And every other recipe because they all just look so darn yummy!

Vegan Baked Beans

These vegan baked beans are the real deal.  Sweet, sticky, smoky—they are everything you want in a baked bean!  And they are really simple to make, too!  They start with a quick sauté of onion in your cast iron skillet, followed by a simple sauce, and then finish with 2 cans of navy beans.  Pop them in the oven to bake while you get to work on the rest of your meal.  The first time I made them Irving said “whoa, these make me want to have a BBQ!”  They’re that good!

Want More Great BBQ Recipes?

Check out these reviews of Great Vegan BBQ Without a Grill:

Pulled Shiitake Mushroom BBQ

Boot Kickin’ BBQ Cauliflower Tacos

Jacked Up Vegan Crab Dip

“Honey” BBQ Ribz

Texas BBQ Brisket

Boneless BBQ Buffalo Wings

Smoky Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Ready to get cooking?

What are you waiting for?  Let’s have a BBQ!  Start with these vegan baked beans, and then maybe some Texas BBQ Brisket?  Round it out with a side like Carolina Coleslaw!  Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong!  You’ll love everything in Great Vegan BBQ Without A Grill!  Order your copy today!

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Smoky Skillet BBQ Baked Beans

After one bite of these you’ll never want canned baked beans again. They have just the right amount of sweetness and tenderness that you want in your baked beans. They also have a wonderful smoky flavor, like you’d find in beans with bacon, thanks to the small amount of liquid smoke that we added. We played around with the measurements of the brown sugar and molasses to make them healthier, and not as sweet as what you find in store-bought beans. We’re confident that we got it just right. You can make them in a Dutch oven or a casserole dish if you don't have an iron skillet, although iron heats so evenly that you might want to consider investing in one.

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon dark molasses
• 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce (we use Annie’s brand)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 15-oz cans navy beans (do not drain)

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
• In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, sugar, tomato paste, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder and liquid smoke until fully combined.
• Heat the oil in a 10-inch (25-cm) cast iron skillet on medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onions and stir to coat in the oil. 
• Cook for approximately 5 to 7 minutes, or until they’re slightly caramelized, stirring frequently to avoid scorching. 
• Reduce the heat to low and add the beans with the liquid in the cans and the maple syrup mixture. Stir until well combined.
• Put the cast iron skillet in the oven and bake uncovered on the middle rack for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the beans are thick and the sauce is sticky. The edges of the beans should be caramelized.

Notes

Recipe republished with permission from Great Vegan BBQ without a Grill by Linda & Alex Meyer, Page Street Publishing Co.