Dr Pepper Baked Beans

Name: Dr Pepper Baked Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 130 min
Ingredients: 112 ounces pork & beans (4x28oz cans); 8-12 slices bacon (cooked and chopped); ½ cup onion (diced); ½ cup green bell pepper (diced); 1 cup brown sugar; ½ cup BBQ sauce; 1 tablespoon yellow mustard; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 ½ cups Dr. Pepper soda; salt and pepper

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Upgrade your cookout with these yummy Dr. Pepper Baked Beans. This is an easy and delicious side dish. It features bacon, onions, bell pepper, and a blend of sauces and spices, they bake to perfection, becoming thick and rich.

Opt for the oven or use a slow cooker for an effortless, fabulous dish ready by cookout time!

Try my Instant Pot Baked Beans for a faster version!

Step-by-step photos and instructions are below. Jump to the recipe card if you wish!

baked beans in a white bowl with red and white napkin.

Doctor up your can of pork and beans with Dr. Pepper! Seriously, you knew that was coming, right? Dr Pepper is a secret ingredient that is really not so secret at all. I usually make baked beans from scratch, but sometimes, I just want a little short cut.

This is such an easy side dish to make. I make this with canned pork and beans, smoky bacon, onions, and bell peppers. We then add a flavorful sauce made with Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, and a little Dr. Pepper! This will be an instant family favorite!

This is baked on a low temperature for up to 2 hours. This help the sugars caramelize, the beans to become even more buttery, and allows the sweet and tangy flavors in the sauce to develop.

It is all made in one skillet and requires just 10 minutes of prep time. Then it’s 2 hours of hands-off time in the oven resulting in amazing flavor.

If you’re not going to be making my Instant Pot baked beans, then these are a must-try! Make my Dr. Pepper baked beans recipe the next time you need a side dish to any grilled meats such as BBQ ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, you name it. Honestly, I could eat a whole bowl on its own!

Why you’ll love this

They are super easy to make with just a handful of ingredients, 10 minutes of prep time, and of course, a can of soda!
Comfort food. The epitome of comfort food! They’re soul-warming, tummy-filling, and crazy delicious!
Serves a crowd. This is the perfect side dish, as it makes enough to feed 12 people. It’s perfect for game days parties, tailgate parties, family barbecue, potlucks and cookouts.
Hands-off. Once this dish is in the oven, you are free to go grab a beer.
Packed with flavor. The Dr. Pepper adds incredible flavor, a deeper color, and a bit of extra sweetness. Combined with the remaining ingredients, it is mouthwatering.

What to serve with Dr. Pepper Beans

There are so many things that you can serve saucy beans with!

They make a great side dish for Smothered pork chops, fried chicken, slow cooker pulled pork, pulled beef, or pulled chicken, ham, brisket, macaroni and cheese, and skillet cornbread. Just to name a few!

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Step-by-step photos and tips and tricks are below. Jump to the full recipe card instead

dr pepper baked beans in a large skillet.

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Key Recipe Ingredients

Note: This highlights some ingredients. Full list is in the recipe card.

Canned pork and beans. You’ll need about 4 cans added to the skillet as is. These are NOT beans you need to rinse and drain.
Bacon. Cooked and chopped bacon adds a salty, smoky element. I use thick cut bacon so it doesn’t overcook by the end. An easy way to cook it ahead would be to use the oven since you already need to turn it on.
Diced onion and Green bell pepper. These add flavor to your beans.
Brown sugar. Light or dark brown sugar, it’s up to you.
BBQ sauce. I have a great homemade BBQ sauce I usually have on hand, but when I don’t, a store-bought jar works just as well.
Yellow mustard & Worcestershire sauce. You can use a little apple cider vinegar if you don’t have mustard. You could also use Dijon mustard or ground mustard.
Dr. Pepper. Don’t worry, the beans won’t end up tasting like you’re drinking soda! They will take on a subtle hint of it, however, and it’s amazing.
Salt & Black pepper. To taste.

ingredients to make dr pepper baked beans laid out and labeled.

How to make this recipe

This is a step-by-step photo guide. Full ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card below.

Jump

Get prepped. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Use a can opener to open the cans of beans.

Mix the ingredients. In a large bowl, combine pork and beans, cooked bacon, diced onion, bell pepper, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour in Dr. Pepper and stir to make sure everything is well combined.

collage of process shots - combining ingredients and adding dr pepper.

Bake. Pour the bean mixture into an ovenproof skillet or 9×13 baking dish. Transfer to the oven and bake for up to 2 hours, adjusting the time based on your bean texture preference. They will thicken more the longer you cook them. Leave them in for 2 hours if you like thicker and stickier beans. If you prefer them saucier, 1.5 hours should suffice!

Serve. Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

collage of process shots - pouring mixture into a baking dish, and after baking.

Kylee’s Notes

What to do with leftovers

Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They are great when you heat them up, but no one would blame you for eating them cold straight out of the fridge!

Substitutions/Additions

I’m partial to using cans of pork and beans just because they already start a little saucy, with sweet and savory flavors. We’re just building on that!

However, if you prefer to use canned beans, you can! Use drained and rinsed pinto beans, navy beans, Great Northern beans, or cannellini beans (any kind of white beans). Or, whatever you’ve got in your cupboard!

No BBQ sauce on hand? No problem. Just use a combination of ketchup and molasses.

Sprinkle in some chili powder for heat.

If you prefer less sweetness in your Dr. Pepper baked beans, you can omit the brown sugar.

Freezing instructions

Freeze them for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw them in the fridge overnight. Easily reheat them the next day in the microwave or over low heat on the stove.

FAQs

Can I use Diet Dr. Pepper for baked beans?

I don’t recommend it. Obviously, you can, but the idea is to have the original flavors of Dr. Pepper and its sugars caramelize to give the beans maximum flavor. If you eliminate the sugar, it just isn’t the same. If you do try it, please let me know how it goes!

If I don’t have Dr. Pepper, can I use something else?

Certainly, and they won’t exactly be Dr. Pepper baked beans anymore, I won’t tell if you don’t. You can use Root Beer, Pepsi, or Coke instead.

What else can you make with Dr. Pepper?

Because it’s acidic, you can use it in all kinds of marinades for meat. It helps to break down the muscle fibers, so not only does it add flavor, but it also tenderizes the meat.

What is the best type of skillet to use?

It needs to be oven-safe and able to withstand heat for long periods. A cast-iron skillet is my top recommendation.

Can I make this in the slow cooker?

Definitely! This is a great idea if you want to free up some room in the oven. Pour the mixture into your crock pot and cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

More recipes to love

Complete your meal with any of the following that would pair so well with Dr. Pepper Baked Beans!

Buffalo chicken tenders. Tender and juicy on the inside, and crispy and saucy on the outside, these tangy tenders are the perfect finger food!
Twice baked potatoes. So nice, we bake them twice! Crispy skin, fluffy potatoes, and topped with gooey melty cheese!
Cheesy corn casserole. Cornbread meets creamed corn in this comforting casserole. We also add in sharp cheddar for good measure!
Cheddar Bay biscuits. Just as buttery and addicting as the ones you’d get at Red Lobster!
Smashed oven potatoes. Boiled, seasoned, smashed, then baked until the crispy little bites are also creamy on the inside.

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About Kylee Ayotte

I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee