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Best Sweet and Smoky Baked Beans with Bacon

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These aren’t your average baked beans. They’re the kind of side dish that steals the show, with a deep, campfire-like smokiness and rich, complex sweetness from a happy accident that became a signature dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces bacon, chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cans (15 ounces each) navy beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the Bacon (10 minutes): Place chopped bacon in a cold Dutch oven. Turn heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy and fat is rendered, about 8-10 minutes.
  2. Sauté the Aromatics (5 minutes): Using a slotted spoon, transfer crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving rendered fat in pot. Add diced onion to hot fat. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until soft and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Build the Sauce (2 minutes): Pour in ketchup, molasses, dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until well combined and smooth.
  4. Add the Beans (1 minute): Add drained and rinsed navy beans to pot. Stir gently to coat. Return cooked bacon to pot. Stir again.
  5. Simmer to Perfection (45-60 minutes): Bring mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes. If sauce gets too thick, add a splash of water or chicken broth.
  6. Finish and Serve (5 minutes): After simmering, taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Let sit off heat for 5 minutes before serving. Sauce should be thick, glossy, and coating every bean.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use 2 tablespoons olive oil to sauté onions, plus 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke. For extra smokiness, add a pinch of chipotle powder or dash of liquid smoke. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, bacon, sweet, smoky, side dish, barbecue, potluck, comfort food

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/best-sweet-and-smoky-baked-beans-with-bacon/