Print

Best Smoky Bacon Baked Beans: Easy Labor Day Side

Best Smoky Bacon Baked Beans - featured image
Print Recipe

These smoky, rich, and perfectly balanced baked beans feature double-smoked bacon and caramelized onions for an unforgettable cookout side dish. Quick and easy, they come together in just over an hour and are guaranteed to be the first dish to disappear.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225g) thick-cut smoked bacon
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cans (15 oz / 425g each) navy beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) ketchup
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) unsulphured molasses
  • 2 tablespoons (25g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) water or chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Position rack in center.
  2. Cook bacon in a cold skillet over medium heat for 6-8 minutes, flipping once, until crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon fat in skillet. Crumble or chop bacon.
  3. Add diced onion to skillet with reserved bacon fat. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until soft and golden brown.
  4. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and water or chicken broth.
  6. Add drained navy beans to skillet. Pour sauce over beans and stir gently to coat. Season with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
  7. Fold in half of the crumbled bacon, reserving the rest for topping.
  8. Transfer skillet to oven (or pour mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish). Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until bubbly and thickened.
  9. In the last 5 minutes of baking, sprinkle reserved bacon on top.
  10. Let beans rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Sauce should coat the back of a spoon.

Notes

For best results, use thick-cut smoked bacon and caramelize onions until golden. Watch the salt—bacon and Worcestershire sauce are already salty. Let beans rest before serving to thicken sauce. For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, smoky bacon, Labor Day, cookout, side dish, barbecue, navy beans, bacon, summer

Find it online: https://ariaappetite.com/best-smoky-bacon-baked-beans-easy-labor-day-side/