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Baked Beans Slow Cooker Recipe Easy Comforting Crowd-Pleasing Meal

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A comforting and easy baked beans recipe made in a slow cooker with a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors. Ideal for gatherings and busy days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dry navy beans, soaked overnight (or 4 cans navy beans, drained and rinsed for quick prep)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped (optional)
  • 1 cup ketchup (250 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth (480 ml)

Instructions

  1. Soak 1 pound of dry navy beans in plenty of cold water overnight (about 8 hours). For quick soak, boil beans for 2 minutes, then cover and let sit for 1 hour.
  2. Chop 4 slices of bacon into small pieces. Finely dice 1 medium yellow onion and mince 3 garlic cloves.
  3. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon, leaving rendered fat in the pan.
  4. Add chopped onion to bacon fat and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
  5. Drain soaked beans and rinse well. Transfer beans to the slow cooker insert.
  6. Add cooked bacon, sautéed onions, and garlic to the slow cooker. Pour in ketchup, maple syrup, molasses, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper.
  7. Add 2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth. Stir gently to combine without mashing the beans.
  8. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours until beans are tender and sauce is thick and bubbly. For thicker sauce, remove lid during last 30 minutes of cooking.
  9. Taste and adjust salt or sweetness before serving. Add a splash more vinegar if desired.

Notes

Do not stir vigorously during cooking to avoid breaking beans. Soaking beans overnight is recommended for best texture. Use canned beans for quicker prep but reduce cooking time to 2-3 hours. Adjust salt and sweetness to taste at the end. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and use vegetable broth with smoked paprika or liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, slow cooker, crockpot, comfort food, easy recipe, crowd-pleaser, barbecue side, smoky baked beans

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/baked-beans-slow-cooker-recipe-easy-comforting-crowd-pleasing-meal/