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Cozy Crockpot Baked Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar

cozy crockpot baked beans - featured image
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A comforting and easy slow cooker baked beans recipe featuring smoky bacon and sweet brown sugar, perfect for potlucks and family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (400g) dry navy beans, soaked overnight
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped
  • ½ cup (100g) packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup (120ml) ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 cups (960ml) water or low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Rinse 2 cups (400g) of dry navy beans and soak overnight in a large bowl with enough water to cover by 2 inches. For a quick soak, boil beans and water for 5 minutes, cover, and let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse before cooking.
  2. Chop 6 slices of bacon into small pieces. Dice 1 medium yellow onion and mince 3 garlic cloves.
  3. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 7-8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pan.
  4. Add diced onions to the bacon fat and sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  5. Transfer soaked and drained beans to the crockpot. Add cooked bacon, sautéed onions and garlic, ½ cup packed brown sugar, ½ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Pour in 4 cups water or chicken broth.
  6. Set crockpot to low and cook for 6-8 hours, stirring once or twice if possible.
  7. About 30 minutes before serving, taste and adjust salt, pepper, or sweetness. Remove lid in the last hour if sauce needs thickening.
  8. Serve warm, optionally garnished with chopped fresh parsley or a dash of hot sauce.

Notes

Soak beans overnight for best texture and digestibility. Do not discard bacon fat; sauté onions and garlic in it for extra flavor. Stir beans occasionally during cooking if possible. Adjust seasoning near the end. For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and add smoked paprika or liquid smoke. Using canned beans reduces cooking time to 2-3 hours on low.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, crockpot, slow cooker, bacon, brown sugar, comfort food, potluck, easy recipe

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/cozy-crockpot-baked-beans-with-bacon-and-brown-sugar-recipe-made-easy/