When it comes to classic comfort food, few dishes can compete with a steaming bowl of baked beans. But why settle for a plain old can of beans when you can elevate this beloved side dish to a whole new level?
Slow Cooker Apple Pie Baked Beans are a fun twist on the classic picnic food and combine the sweet and savory flavors of apple pie with the hearty goodness of baked beans. Whether you're hosting a backyard BBQ, a family gathering, or just looking for a delicious side dish, these baked beans with apple pie filling are a total winner.
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Why This Recipe Works
This slow cooker apple pie baked beans recipe is a standout for many reasons. Here’s why I love these so much (and you will too!)
- Delicious. The combination of sweet apple pie filling and savory baked beans creates a taste sensation that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Easy and convenient. Let your slow cooker do the work for you. Simply toss in the ingredients and go about your day while the flavors meld to perfection.
- Versatile. These beans are the perfect side dish at your next BBQ, or served with something like these Sweet And Spicy Bacon Smash Burgers, Air Fryer Pork Chops, a classic Lipton Onion Soup Meatloaf, Instant Pot BBQ Chicken, or this Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Recipe but they also make a satisfying meal on their own. Our family is a huge fan of a “beans on toast” dinner for busy nights and these totally hit the spot!
Ingredients
The ingredients here are fairly simple - you should be able to find everything you need at your local grocery store.
- Canned baked beans. These will serve as the base layer of your recipe. Don’t go for one of the flavor variations here - the best beans to use are original, plain baked beans, as you’ll be adding other ingredients to flavor these on your own.
- Apple pie filling. This will add some delicious sweetness to the dish, You can typically find canned apple pie filling in the baking aisle (sometimes next to pumpkin or other fruit pie fillings). Look for kinds with no high fructose corn syrup if possible.
- BBQ sauce. This adds an extra zing to the dish.Use your favorite brand.
- Brown sugar. You don’t need much brown sugar here as the apple pie filling already adds a lot of sweetness, but a touch adds a nice, slightly caramel flavor to these beans.
- Worcestershire sauce and dijon mustard. For added flavor.
- Crispy bacon. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - bacon makes everything better! The crispy bits in the recipe serve as a nice contrast to the soft beans and apple slices.
- White onions and jalapeños. The spiciness of the peppers and onions counters the sweetness of the apples.
- Liquid smoke. This is totally optional, but I love the slightly smokey flavor this gives the beans.
How To Make Apple Pie Baked Beans In The Slow Cooker
- Cook the bacon. Chop the bacon into pieces and cook the bacon over the stove until crisp, then remove from the pan. In the bacon grease and allow to cool. Don’t wipe the pan clean.
- Saute the onions. In the same pan, saute the onion in the bacon grease until soft and translucent.
- Transfer to a crockpot. Add the beans, the can of apple pie filling, diced onion, bbq sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, hot peppers and all but a few of the bacon crumbles to the slow cooker.
- Cook. Cook on low for 1 ½ hours in the slow cooker.
- Garnish and serve. Top with extra bacon crumbles and hot peppers if desired.
Variations
You can customize these baked beans with apple pie filling to suit your preferences:
- Smoked Apple Pie Baked Beans. Add a smoky twist by using smoked bacon or adding a touch of liquid smoke to the slow cooker.
- Apple Pie Baked Beans with Sausage. For a heartier version, include sliced smoked sausage or kielbasa.
Substitutions
Don't hesitate to make ingredient swaps based on what you have on hand or dietary restrictions:
- Sub out the onions. Use yellow onion instead of white if thats all you have on hand.
- Use homemade apple pie filling. This is a great way to control the sugar level of the dish. And you get to choose your own fresh apples, making it sweeter or tart depending on your tastes.
- Adjust the spice. Adjust the level of spiciness by switching out the peppers. If jalapeños are too spicy for you, switch to a milder roasted hatch chile, green pepper, or red bell pepper. Or, if you want to really amp up the spice, toss in some serrano peppers.
Frequently Asked Questions
As written, this is a rather spicy recipe. But it's easy to adjust the spice level by changing or omitting the peppers you use.
Absolutely! For a less spicy taste, simply reduce or omit the hot peppers to suit your preference for a milder dish. You could also sub out the hot peppers for green peppers or red bell peppers.
Yes, you can make this dish on the stove top. Just prepare everything in a large dutch oven or large pot, and simmer it on over low-medium heat for about 30 minutes stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and the flavors are well blended.
Store leftover baked beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Yes! If you find yourself with too many leftover beans, or if you just want to make them in advance and freeze for later, these apple pie baked beans can easily be frozen. Just allow them to come to room temperature, then put them in an airtight, freezer safe container and freeze for up to five months.
Literally, almost anything. Of course baked beans are great with burgers, hot dogs or sausages, but we also love beans as a side for breakfast, with eggs and toast. It's a great recipe to get creative with and you can serve it up in many different ways.
Whether you're preparing these beans for your next BBQ or a cozy family dinner, they're sure to become a favorite. If you try these Apple Pie Baked Beans, let me know what you think in the comments. And don’t forget to tag me with a pic @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!
More Easy Side Dishes
- Hot Honey Roasted Carrots
- Roasted Garlic And Cauliflower Mash
- Jalapeno Deviled Eggs With Bacon
- Fried Mashed Potato Balls With Bacon And Cheese
- Roasted Fennel Salad With Orange Honey Dressing
- Boursin Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Loaded Tater Tots (Totchos
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Crunchy Coleslaw (Great for Pulled Pork!)
- Easy Instant Pot Mexican Rice
- Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
- Instant Pot Farro
Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Apple Pie Baked Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 6-8 strips bacon
- 56 oz canned original baked beans
- 15 oz apple pie filling (look for one with no high fructose corn syrup)
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
- ½ cup diced white onion
- 1 jalapeno, sliced (or other hot peper)
Instructions
- Chop the bacon into small pieces and cook the bacon over the stove until crisp, then remove from the pan. Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease. In the bacon grease, saute the onion until soft and translucent.6-8 strips bacon
- Add the beans, apple pie filling, sauted onion, bbq sauce, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce, mustard, bacon crumbles and the sliced jalapeno peppers to the pan (reserve a few slices of pepper and bacon crumbles for the topping if you wish.r56 oz canned original baked beans, 15 oz apple pie filling, ½ cup barbecue sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoon dijon mustard, ½ cup diced white onion, 1 jalapeno, sliced
- Cook the beans on low for 1 ½ hours. If making these on the stovetop, simmer for 30 minutes.
- When finished cooking, top with extra bacon crumbles and hot peppers if desired and serve.
Notes
- Omit the peppers if you don't want this to be a spicy dish.
- Add sausage for a heartier meal.
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