Savory Baked Beans with Brown Sugar and Crispy Bacon
A cozy, slow-roasted baked beans recipe featuring brown sugar caramelization and crispy bacon for a perfect BBQ side dish that’s quick and easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus overnight soaking if using dried beans)
- Cook Time: 1 hour (including baking and bean cooking time)
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (plus overnight soaking if using dried beans)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups dried navy beans (or 4 cups cooked/canned navy beans)
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- 1 cup water or low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Rinse 2 cups dried navy beans and soak overnight in plenty of cold water. Drain and rinse again.
- Place soaked beans in a large pot, cover with about 4 cups fresh water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook for 1 to 1.5 hours until tender but not mushy. Drain beans, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. (Skip this step if using canned beans.)
- Chop 8 slices of thick-cut bacon into bite-sized pieces. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate, leaving bacon fat in pan.
- In the same skillet with bacon fat, add chopped onion and cook over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked beans, sautéed onion and garlic, crispy bacon, brown sugar, ketchup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Stir gently to coat beans evenly. Add reserved bean cooking liquid or chicken broth if mixture is too thick.
- Pour mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread evenly. Cover tightly with foil.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes to caramelize the top.
- Let beans rest for 10 minutes before serving to thicken sauce and deepen flavors.
Notes
If sauce is too runny after baking, place dish under broiler for a few minutes to thicken and brown the top. Stir gently before serving to distribute bacon evenly. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and add smoked paprika, liquid smoke, and sautéed mushrooms. Slow cooker adaptation: cook on low for 4-6 hours after mixing ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 9
- Protein: 14
Keywords: baked beans, bacon, brown sugar, BBQ side dish, savory beans, easy baked beans, smoky baked beans, potluck recipe