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Savory BBQ Baked Beans Recipe with Crispy Bacon and Brown Sugar

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A comforting and flavorful baked beans recipe featuring crispy thick-cut bacon, brown sugar, and smoky BBQ sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or weekend cookouts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups (about 2 cans, 15 oz / 425 g each) navy beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar (about 70 g)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) BBQ sauce
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon)
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or dash of hot sauce
  • Optional: diced fresh tomatoes (summer months)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Stir occasionally. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat, keeping the drippings in the pan.
  3. In the same skillet with bacon drippings, add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, BBQ sauce, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and salt. Whisk until smooth.
  5. Stir the drained beans, cooked bacon, and sautéed onion-garlic mixture into the sauce. Mix gently but thoroughly.
  6. Pour the bean mixture into a greased 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) casserole dish or Dutch oven. Spread evenly.
  7. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until beans bubble gently and the top caramelizes and thickens.
  8. Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed. For a thicker sauce, bake an additional 10 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
  9. Let the beans rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set.

Notes

Keep an eye on the bacon while frying to avoid burning. If beans start to dry out while baking, splash a little water or extra BBQ sauce on top. Let beans rest before serving to thicken the sauce. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and use smoked paprika and vegetarian BBQ sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: BBQ baked beans, baked beans with bacon, savory baked beans, brown sugar baked beans, easy baked beans recipe, smoky baked beans, comfort food

Find it online: https://rowanrecipes.com/savory-bbq-baked-beans-recipe-with-crispy-bacon-and-brown-sugar-easy/