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Comforting Baked Beans with Bacon and Brown Sugar

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A simple, soul-soothing baked beans recipe featuring smoky bacon and sweet brown sugar for a perfect balance of flavors. Ready in about an hour, it’s a comforting side dish ideal for gatherings or cozy meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups cooked Great Northern Beans or Navy Beans (or two 15 oz cans, drained and rinsed)
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon mustard (Dijon or yellow)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve around 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat.
  3. Add the diced onion to the bacon fat in the skillet. Cook until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Stir well until the sugar starts dissolving.
  5. In your oven-safe casserole or Dutch oven, add the drained beans, cooked bacon, sautéed onion and garlic, and the sauce mixture. Stir gently to combine without mashing the beans.
  6. Cover the dish with a lid or foil and bake for 45-50 minutes until the sauce thickens and bubbles slowly.
  7. Remove the cover and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes if you want a slightly caramelized top. Watch closely to avoid burning.
  8. Let the beans sit for 5 minutes before serving to let the flavors settle.

Notes

If the sauce looks too thick before baking, stir in a splash of water or broth. Keep an eye on the beans during the last uncovered bake step to avoid burning. For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and add smoked paprika plus a splash of liquid smoke. Turkey bacon can be used for a leaner option. Dark brown sugar adds deeper molasses flavor but light brown sugar works fine. Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, bacon, brown sugar, comfort food, easy recipe, smoky, sweet, side dish, BBQ, potluck

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/comforting-baked-beans-with-bacon-and-brown-sugar-easy-recipe-for-perfect-flavor/