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Cozy Brown Sugar Baked Beans with Smoked Sausage

brown sugar baked beans with smoked sausage - featured image
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A hearty and comforting baked beans recipe featuring smoky sausage and a sweet brown sugar glaze, perfect for feeding a crowd and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups dried Great Northern beans or navy beans (or two 15-ounce cans, rinsed and drained)
  • 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced into ½-inch rounds (kielbasa or Andouille recommended)
  • ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 ½ cups water or low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  1. If using dried beans, soak 1 ½ cups overnight in cold water. Drain, rinse, and simmer in fresh water or broth for about 45 minutes until tender but not mushy. If using canned beans, drain and rinse well.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice smoked sausage into ½-inch rounds.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the sausage slices for 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, sauté diced onion and minced garlic until soft and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
  5. Stir in tomato paste, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until flavors meld and sauce thickens slightly.
  6. In an oven-safe casserole dish or Dutch oven, combine cooked beans, browned sausage, and sauce mixture. Add water or broth and stir gently without mashing the beans.
  7. Cover the dish with a lid or foil and bake for 45 minutes. Stir halfway through and add more liquid if needed.
  8. Remove lid or foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes to caramelize the sauce.
  9. Let the dish rest for 10 minutes before serving. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Avoid burning the brown sugar glaze by keeping oven temperature moderate and stirring halfway through baking. Adding a splash of liquid during baking helps prevent dryness. For extra char, broil 2-3 minutes at the end but watch carefully. Slow cooker adaptation possible by browning sausage and sautéing onions first, then cooking on low for 4-6 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, brown sugar, smoked sausage, comfort food, easy recipe, crowd-pleaser, potluck, slow bake

Find it online: https://rowanrecipes.com/cozy-brown-sugar-baked-beans-with-smoked-sausage-easy-recipe-for-a-crowd/