Kansas City Baked Beans Recipe

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/3/22
Kansas City Baked Beans

The Spruce / Ali Redmond

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 75 mins
Total: 95 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
229 Calories
5g Fat
40g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 229
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 525mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 14%
Dietary Fiber 6g 20%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 27mg 136%
Calcium 82mg 6%
Iron 2mg 13%
Potassium 541mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

These baked beans get their flavor from Brisket Burnt Ends. These are the dried out tips of a smoked brisket. Burnt ends are a little tough on their own, but the perfect addition to beans.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450 grams) navy beans

  • 6 cups (1.4 liters) water

  • 4 strips bacon

  • 1 onion, chopped

  • 2 bell peppers, chopped

  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) barbecue sauce

  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) apple cider

  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) burnt ends

  • 1/3 cup (80 millliters) molasses

  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) mustard

  • 2 tablespoons (60 milliliters) cider vinegar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Kansas City Baked Beans ingredients

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  2. Soak beans for 4 hours in water, then drain.

    beans in a bowl with water

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  3. Combine beans and 6 cups water in a large dutch oven. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

    beans with water in a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  4. Cook for 2 to 3 hours on a low heat, stirring occasionally. After beans have softened, add salt and continue cooking until beans are soft enough to mash between fingers.

    beans with water in a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  5. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a skillet over medium high heat, fry bacon.

    bacon cooking in a cast iron skillet

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  6. Remove bacon and crumble.

    bacon pieces on a plate

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  7. Add chopped onion and peppers to pan, saute until soft.

    chopped onion and peppers in a pan

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  8. Place onion and peppers along with bacon in the Dutch oven with the beans. Add barbecue sauce, apple cider, burnt ends, molasses, mustard, and cider vinegar and cover. 

    bacon, barbecue sauce, apple cider, burnt ends, molasses, mustard, cider vinegar, chopped onion and pepper in a dutch oven

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond

  9. Bake for 1 hour, remove the cover, stir, and continue baking for about 15 minutes.

    Kansas City Baked Beans in a Dutch oven

    The Spruce / Ali Redmond