From smoky baked beans to fresh summer salads and hearty veggie burgers, beans can bring more flavor, color, and variety to the cookout table.
The smell of charcoal in the air. Long evenings on the patio. A table filled with burgers, brats, grilled vegetables, and all the sides that make a summer cookout feel complete. Grilling season is officially here, and beans deserve a place at the party.
Burgers and hot dogs may get most of the attention, but the dishes around them often bring just as much personality to the table. A great cookout needs a mix of flavors and textures: something smoky, something fresh, something hearty, and maybe something a little unexpected. Beans can do all of that.
Start with the classic. Baked beans have earned their place beside barbecue favorites, and there is plenty of room to make them your own. Navy beans and pinto beans both work well as a base for a rich, savory side dish. Add smoky spices, chopped jalapeños, fresh herbs, or a splash of bourbon to give the recipe a little more depth. A touch of sweetness can help balance the flavors, but the best baked beans do not need to be heavy or syrupy. They can be warm, smoky, and full of character.
Beans also pair beautifully with vegetables straight from the grill. Charred corn, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes bring a little smokiness and a lot of summer flavor to chilled bean salads. Toss grilled corn with pink or black beans, fresh herbs, and a bright lime vinaigrette. Combine grilled zucchini with kidney beans, red onion, cilantro, and a little heat. These dishes are colorful, easy to serve, and especially welcome on hot days when something fresh sounds better than another heavy side.
And beans do not have to stay on the sidelines. They can take center stage in a hearty veggie burger that holds its own beside anything else on the grill. Pinto, black, or Great Northern beans all make a strong base for patties when paired with grains, vegetables, herbs, and spices. The key is building enough texture so the burger feels satisfying rather than soft or mushy. Chilling the patties before cooking helps them hold together, and a little time on a hot skillet, grill pan, or carefully managed grill gives them a crisp, flavorful exterior.
One of the easiest ways to make a cookout feel more interesting is to offer a little variety. A tray of grilled vegetables, a chilled bean salad, a smoky pot of baked beans, or a bean burger with plenty of toppings can help round out the meal and give guests something new to try. Beans also make it easier to serve a crowd, whether you are planning a backyard barbecue, packing a picnic, or bringing a dish to a summer potluck.
This month, take at least one bean dish outside. Bring a colorful salad to the picnic table, give your baked beans a flavorful upgrade, or add a bean burger to the menu. However you serve them, beans belong at the cookout.
A cookout just isn’t the same without baked beans. I like to make a bean dish that uses multiple beans. Starting with a can of baked beans and adding black, pinto, kidney, Great Northern, butter, pink and whatever other kind I have. Stir in some browned sausage or hamburger, molasses, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar and a couple other spices if I think about it and simmer. People always ask about it.