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Savory Baked Beans with Brown Sugar Bacon

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A rich, sticky baked beans recipe featuring smoky brown sugar caramelized bacon, perfect for cookouts and comfort food lovers. Easy to prepare with pantry staples and baked low and slow for the perfect texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dry navy beans (about 450g), soaked overnight or canned for shortcut
  • 8 ounces thick-cut bacon, diced (225g)
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar (100g), preferably dark brown sugar
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon)
  • 4 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth (950ml)

Instructions

  1. Rinse 1 pound dry navy beans thoroughly. Place in a large bowl, cover with 6 cups cold water, and soak overnight (8-12 hours).
  2. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook diced bacon until crispy and golden, about 7-10 minutes. Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving rendered fat in pot.
  3. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to bacon fat. Cook about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in tomato paste, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Cook 2 minutes to meld flavors.
  5. Drain soaked beans and add to pot. Pour in 4 cups water or chicken broth. Stir gently to combine; liquid should just cover beans.
  6. Cover pot with lid or foil and bake in preheated oven for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes, until beans are tender and sauce is thick and syrupy.
  7. About 20 minutes before finishing, stir cooked bacon back into beans to keep it flavorful and slightly crispy.
  8. Remove from oven, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Let rest 10 minutes before serving to thicken sauce further.

Notes

Soak beans overnight to improve texture and reduce cooking time. Bake low and slow to avoid mushy beans. Use thick-cut bacon for better texture. Stir every 30 minutes to prevent sticking. Adjust sweetness and tang with brown sugar and apple cider vinegar to taste. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and use smoked paprika and liquid smoke with vegetable broth. If using canned beans, reduce baking time to 30-40 minutes and watch closely.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, brown sugar bacon, cookout recipe, BBQ side dish, comfort food, navy beans, smoky baked beans

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/savory-baked-beans-with-brown-sugar-bacon-easy-cookout-recipe/