Homemade Baked Beans with Smoky Sweet BBQ Seasoning

There’s something deeply satisfying about creating your own Homemade Baked Beans with Smoky Sweet BBQ Seasoning. Sure, it’s not the cheapest or quickest way to get beans on toast—but the rich, smoky flavour and the comfort of making something from scratch make it well worth the effort. This recipe is easily adaptable for vegetarians (see note below), and if you’re short on time or energy, simply stir a spoonful of our Smoky Sweet BBQ Seasoning into a can of store-bought baked beans and enjoy!

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Homemade Baked Beans with Smoky Sweet BBQ Seasoning

Ingredients:

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 celery sticks, finely chopped

4 rashers streaky bacon, finely chopped

1 tbsp tomato purée

2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

2 tbsp dark brown sugar

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2–3 tsp Avohaven Smoky Sweet BBQ Seasoning (adjust to taste)

2 x 400g cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 red capsicums, deseeded and chopped

200ml water (plus extra as needed)

Instructions:

Heat the vegetable oil in a large ovenproof pan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and bacon. Cook gently for 8–10 minutes until softened and fragrant.

Stir in the tomato purée and cook for 1–2 minutes to caramelise slightly. Add the chopped tomatoes, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Smoky Sweet BBQ Seasoning. Pour in the water and stir well to combine.

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes. This helps the sauce thicken and the flavours to deepen.

Stir in the drained beans and chopped red capsicum. Simmer for another 10–15 minutes, adding a splash of boiling water if the sauce becomes too thick.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Transfer the pan (or pour into a baking dish) and bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until the beans are thick, glossy, and bubbling.

These beans can be made ahead of time and reheated—if anything, they taste even better the next day.

Note:

To make this a delicious vegetarian version, simply leave out the bacon and swap the Worcestershire sauce for a vegetarian-friendly alternative (like a mix of soy sauce and a splash of balsamic vinegar). The Avohaven Smoky Sweet BBQ Seasoning brings enough rich, umami depth that you won’t miss the meat—perfect for a hearty, plant-based twist on this classic comfort dish.