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Savory Brown Sugar Bacon Baked Beans Recipe Easy Crispy Bacon Side Dish

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A comforting side dish combining sweet brown sugar, smoky crispy bacon, and tender baked beans with a rich, caramelized sauce. Perfect for gatherings or cozy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups dried navy beans or great northern beans (or canned beans, rinsed)
  • 6 ounces thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • ¼ cup water or low-sodium broth (optional, for thinning sauce)
  • 6 cups water (for cooking dried beans)

Instructions

  1. If using dried beans, rinse 1 ½ cups under cold water and soak overnight in plenty of water.
  2. Drain soaked beans and place in a large pot with 6 cups fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for about 1 hour or until beans are tender but not mushy. If using canned beans, skip soaking and cooking.
  3. While beans cook or warm, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until crisp, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving some bacon fat in the skillet.
  4. In the same skillet with bacon fat, sauté diced onion over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. In a bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
  6. Drain cooked beans (if using dried) and add to a large mixing bowl. Stir in sautéed onions and garlic, sauce mixture, and half of the crispy bacon. Add water or broth if mixture seems too thick.
  7. Transfer mixture to a greased 8×8-inch baking dish. Top with remaining bacon. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes.
  8. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes to brown the top and thicken the sauce.
  9. Let beans rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken and flavors to settle.

Notes

If the sauce thickens too much during baking, stir in a splash of water or broth. Watch the bacon closely during the last 10 minutes to avoid burning. For extra crispy bacon, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end. Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/savory-brown-sugar-bacon-baked-beans-recipe-easy-crispy-bacon-side-dish/