Traeger Honey BBQ Baked Beans Recipe

Smoked Honey BBQ Baked Beans

These homemade baked beans are sweet, smoky, and perfect for backyard meals where the sides get nearly as much attention as the main course. The sauce combines tomato sauce, yellow mustard, brown sugar, a touch of apple cider vinegar, BBQ rub, honey, and dry hard apple cider, then the whole pan heads to the smoker with white beans and crisp bacon.

Set your Traeger and let it do its thing: low, steady heat and real smoke that builds flavor without extra effort. The mixture simmers and reduces until the sauce is glossy and richly flavored. This dish pairs beautifully with ribs, brisket, pulled pork, burgers, or any grilling spread where you want a hearty, crowd-pleasing side.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Bold BBQ Flavor – Honey, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and BBQ rub combine into a sauce with depth that tastes like it cooked for hours.
• Hands-Off Smoker Side – The Traeger lends steady heat and smoke so the beans can develop flavor with minimal attention.
• Feeds a Crowd – Beans are economical, filling, and easy to scale up for larger gatherings.
• Adjustable Texture – Smoke until the sauce is as thick as you like; thin with more hard cider if you prefer a looser sauce.
• Bacon in Every Bite – Crispy, crumbled bacon adds savory contrast and a pleasing texture.

Try my original Smoked Baked Beans for another take on smoked bean sides!

Recipe Shopping List

Here’s what you’ll need to make these Traeger Honey BBQ Baked Beans. For exact measurements, see the ingredient list in the recipe card below.

• Tomato sauce – the saucy base for flavor and body.
• Honey – adds natural sweetness and a glossy finish as the sauce reduces.
• Apple cider vinegar – bright acidity to balance the sweet elements.
• Yellow mustard – a touch of sharpness that plays well in baked beans.
• Brown sugar – deepens sweetness and gives that classic baked-bean profile.
• Dry hard apple cider – apple flavor and enough liquid to keep the beans moist while smoking.
• BBQ rub – use your favorite rub to add smoky spice.
• Onion – optional but recommended for extra savory depth.
• Jalapeño – optional for a bit of heat.
• White beans – navy, great northern, or cannellini beans work well.
• Bacon – cook and crumble before adding for savory richness.

Also great: Smoked Baked Beans with Brisket if you want to add meat.

How To Make This Recipe

This overview shows the basic steps. Use the full recipe card below while you cook for exact amounts and timing.

1. Preheat the Traeger – Bring the smoker to 300°F and let it stabilize.
2. Mix the sauce – Whisk together tomato sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, mustard, brown sugar, BBQ rub, and dry hard cider until smooth.
3. Combine beans and bacon – Gently fold in drained white beans and crisp bacon crumbles.
4. Transfer to a grill-safe dish – Pour the mixture into an 8×8 high-sided oven- or grill-safe baking dish.
5. Smoke until thickened – Smoke for 1½ to 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes, until the sauce reaches the desired consistency. If the sauce gets too thick while smoking, add a splash more hard cider to loosen it.

Also try a meaty version like Spicy Cowboy Beans for a different flavor profile.

Recipe FAQ

We also love Dr. Pepper Baked Beans for a sweeter, deeper caramel flavor.

More Incredible BBQ Sides

• Traeger Hash Brown Casserole
• Smoked Boursin Mashed Potatoes
• Traeger Smoked Sweet Potatoes
• Traeger Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
• Smoked Potato Salad
• Traeger Cheddar Garlic Butter Swim Biscuits

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