Slow Cooker Hawaiian Baked Beans

These Hawaiian barbecue Crockpot Baked Beans are the BEST homemade baked beans I’ve ever made. Perfect for potlucks, cookouts, and more!

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Barbecue Baked Beans simmered in a pineapple infused barbecue bath enlivened with just the right kick of Cajun spices. These beans are a total crowd pleaser and couldn’t be any easier!!

Hawaiian Barbecue Baked Beans with a serving spoon.

Why you’ll love BAKED BEANS

I have it bad for baked beans.
My foodie crush started years and years ago. First, it was Pork and Beans. Although that was more of a love/hate as I was grossed out every time I had to fish out the soggy piece of bacon. I didn’t understand it. Perhaps I never will. But the beans were so good to a seven-year-old dirty blonde, freckle faced girl.
Then it was Bush’s Baked Beans. The perfect texture and sweetness, doctored up with cheese, sour cream and onions.
And now its these Slow Cooker Barbecue Baked Beans perfect just the way they are. I am crushing hard.
These beans are perfectly sweet, perfectly spiced, and perfectly brightened by the addition of pineapple juice. The pineapple juice makes these homemade baked beans but is not overpowering. Rather, it perfectly complements the sweet and tangy barbecue mixture of ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, and a heaping spoonful of Cajun spices.
Simply dump the beans, Hawaiian barbecue sauce ingredients, garlic and onion into your crockpot and let it simmer away. As the beans cook and soften, they will drink up all the pineapple, barbecue goodness.
So easy, so delicious, so perfect for crowds, SO ready for you to curl up with a bowl and fall in love with baked beans all over again.

Hawaiian Barbecue Baked Beans in a white bowl with green union on top.

Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe Ingredients

This baked beans recipe from scratch is so easy to make thanks to the help of your trusty Crockpot. Here’s what you’ll need to make Hawaiian barbecue baked beans:

Canned beans: I used a mixture of kidney, white, and pinto beans, but use whatever you’d like (see my notes below on the best types of beans for baked beans).
Sweet onion: Half of a large yellow onion will work.
Garlic: Buy prepared garlic to make your life easier.
Ketchup: Adds a slight tomato flavor and some sweetness.
Brown sugar: I prefer using brown sugar because it has more flavor than plain white sugar.

Molasses: Adds sweetness and a rich flavor.
White vinegar: Balances out the sweetness of the sugar, ketchup, and molasses.
Mustard: I used a blend of Dijon and yellow mustards.
Worcestershire sauce: Adds umami flavor.
Pineapple juice: I buy canned pineapple juice and mix in a little cornstarch to help the sauce thicken up.
Cajun spice: You need a kick of spice to complement the sweetness of the sauce.

Top view of Crockpot Baked Beans in a white bowl.

How to Make Hawaiian Baked Beans

This may just be the best baked beans recipe EVER. Why? Because it’s so tasty and so easy to make!

Add all the ingredients to your Crockpot.
Cook on LOW for 7-9 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.
Just before serving, stir in a little bacon, if desired.

Can I Prep Baked Beans in Advance?

Absolutely! Make the recipe as instructed, then refrigerate until ready to serve. To warm, set slow cooker to low and cook until heated through.

Showing how to make Hawaiian Barbecue Baked Beans in a slow cooker by including all the raw ingredients.

Tips for Making Baked Beans in Crockpot

Rinse and drain beans. This is a MUST! Rinsing the beans reduces the sodium which in turns reduces your gassiness 😊. To rinse beans, add them all at once to a large colander and gently rinse with cold water. You don’t want to use the spray setting or it can break your beans apart. Take care your beans are thoroughly drained before adding to the sauce. You may need to dab them with paper towels to get rid of excess moisture.
Salt to taste. Do to the salty nature of bacon, I didn’t find it necessary to salt these beans. If you feel like something is missing at the end of cooking, then you may need to add salt to taste.
Adjust cook time as needed. If you like thicker sauce, cook the beans until the sauce is thickened to your liking. For a thinner sauce, cook for less time, or stir in some extra water.

Showing the cooked Crockpot Baked Beans in the slow cooker.

Homemade Baked Beans Variations to Try

Liquid smoke. I love adding liquid smoke to my Baked Beans because they add a baked-over-an-open-flame taste and smell to our already scrumdiddlyumptious beans. Liquid Smoke can be found next the barbecue sauces at your local grocery store. I prefer Mesquite liquid smoke for these baked beans but you are welcome to use hickory if you prefer.
Adjust the flavors. You can make your barbecue baked beans sweeter by adding additional brown sugar, tangier by adding more apple cider vinegar or spicier by adding hot sauce.
Make vegetarian. If you are looking to make this a vegetarian recipe, you can omit the bacon that’s stirred in at the end.

Hawaiian Barbecue Baked Beans with a serving ladle.

Crockpot Baked Beans Serving Suggestions

These easy baked beans pair perfectly with your favorite summer mains! Here are some ideas of what you can serve alongside these baked beans:

Close up of Crockpot Baked Beans with bacon and green onion on top.

How to Store Baked Beans

Store leftover barbecue baked beans in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll last up to 5 days.

How to Reheat Baked Beans

You can reheat these barbecue baked beans in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the Crockpot (save the Crockpot for much larger portions).

Can I Freeze Baked Beans?

Yes, homemade baked beans freeze very well. Let cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in your fridge overnight.

Hawaiian Baked Beans FAQs

What Are the Best Beans for Baked Beans?

The most popular type of beans for baked beans is navy beans. Navy beans are a white bean also known as:
haricot
pearl haricotbean
Boston bean
white pea bean
pea bean
However, you can essentially use whatever combination of beans you have on hand from navy and pinto to great northern beans and butter beans.

Looking for More Potluck Side Dishes?

Crockpot Creamed Corn
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Bacon Pea Pasta Salad
Creamy Berry Salad
Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Broccoli Salad
Cowboy Pasta Salad
All of my summer recipes!

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Total Time: 8 5

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 8

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Ingredients

Hawaiian Barbecue Baked Beans

1 28 oz. can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 oz. can white beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 oz. can light kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 large sweet onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 6 oz. can pineapple juice mixed with 1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon Cajun spice

Garnishes (optional)

6-8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (recommended)
green onions
fresh pineapple
cheese
hot sauce

Instructions

Add all of the Hawaiian Barbecue Baked Beans ingredients to your slow cooker and mix to combine.
Cook on LOW for 7-9 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. If the beans are too thick, stir in a little water, if not thick enough, continue to cook.
Just before serving, stir in bacon. Top with desired garnishes. Enjoy!

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4 Comments

Lori says

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This came up really good!!! I made it for Thanksgiving!

- Jen says
  
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  What a great idea to make for Thanksgiving Lori! I’m so happy you enjoyed them, thank you!
  
Lisa M says

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Hi! Can these beans be frozen and reheated successfully? I am a fellow N.County resident who will host a family reunion this summer. Do you have any make ahead dishes that you recommend?

- Jen says
  
  at
  
  Hi Lisa, I don’t recommend freezing these as the texture can get a little funny. Any of the salads can be prepped ahead of time and then keep the ingredients separate and then assemble.
  -The Bacon Pea Pasta Salad is SUPER easy because there is no chopping (just crumbling bacon) and you can make the dressing and keep it separate so it can be prepped in advance: https://capital-axis.live/creamy-pasta-salad/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> -This Strawberry Avocado Broccoli Salad is a favorite and keeps very well – just don’t add the avocados until serving: https://capital-axis.live/strawberry-broccoli-salad-with-creamy-poppy-seed-dressing/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> – Kicked Up Potato Salad keeps great: https://capital-axis.live/kicked-up-classic-creamy-potato-salad/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> -Moist Sweet Cornbread is sensational and could probably be frozen successfully but I haven’t personally tried it: https://capital-axis.live/sweet-cornbread-recipe/%3C/a%3E%3Cbr /> I hope that helps!

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Barbecue Baked Beans

These Hawaiian barbecue Crockpot Baked Beans are the BEST homemade baked beans I’ve ever made. Perfect for potlucks, cookouts, and more!

Why you’ll love BAKED BEANS

Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe Ingredients