Low Calorie Baked Beans

This Low Calorie Barbecue Baked Beans Recipe is healthy and easy. I made it with canned beans (not canned baked beans) to make this recipe extra easy and fast.

You can enjoy this smoky BBQ beans baked camping recipe staple for just 149 calories per 1/2 cup serving, and the sugar is low thanks to my low calorie cooking tricks.

I was able to cut the sugar in this recipe with a homemade barbecue sauce, and one calorie and sugar cutting trick. As a bonus, you can use this trick in all your favorite recipes!

Low Calorie Baked Beans

Ingredients for Low Calorie Baked Beans

It’s easy to make a sweet baked bean recipe without adding loads of unhealthy sugar. I have some low calorie cooking tips to help you cut calories.

Low Calorie Cooking Tips:

• Zero calorie all-natural brown sugar: We use an all natural sweetener to add a boost of sweetness to these homemade BBQ baked beans. It has zero calories and works great in this recipe.
• Homemade Barbecue Sauce: Our homemade BBQ sauce is low in calories and packed full of flavor! Try this Honey Bourbon BBQ sauce when making baked bean side dishes.
• Real Bacon: Yes, you read the correctly… We use real bacon. I find it’s easier to get people to eat healthy if you use the “real thing” but just less of it. We use only 2 slices of bacon for 4 servings (just 1/2 slice per person). It adds amazing flavor, but you can use turkey bacon if you prefer.

Shopping List for Healthy Baked Bean Recipes:

• Bacon (or turkey bacon)
• Small onion 
• Red bell pepper 
• Homemade Barbecue Sauce (or organic store bought)
• Zero calorie all-natural brown sugar
• Mustard
• Worcestershire sauce
• Smoked​ paprika
• Great Northern beans or navy beans 

How to Make Healthy Baked Beans

I make this baked bean dish with canned beans… but unlike most of the recipes you’ll find, I didn’t use (sugar and preservative packed) canned baked beans to make this low calorie recipe.

How to Make Healthy Barbecue Baked Beans:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
2. In a large cast iron skillet (or oven safe skillet or dutch oven), cook the bacon over medium-high heat.
3. Cook until crisp, about 5-8 minutes then remove from the pan and crumble into a small bowl. Set aside.
4. Add the onion and the bell pepper to the pan and cook, over medium heat, for 5 minutes until starting to soften.
5. Turn off the heat and add the homemade barbecue sauce, zero calorie all-natural brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and beans.
6. Stir well, cover with foil (or oven safe lid) and move to the oven.
7. Bake the beans for 25 minutes, until until sticky and bubbling. Uncover and top with crumbled bacon. 
8. Serve hot, or chill to serve cold.

Low Calorie Baked Beans Recipe

This Healthy Recipe for Barbecue Baked Beans is just 149 calories per 1/2 cup (and that’s a HUGE serving!) and is low in calories when compared with most sweet baked beans recipes.

Nutrition and Calories in Baked Bean Recipes

The nutrition is based off 1/2 cup of homemade baked beans.

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Article History:

• Originally written and published on June 6, 2021 by Audrey Johns
• Updated on March 21, 2023 by Audrey Johns