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Best Easy Slow Cooker Smoky Bacon Baked Beans

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Rich, deeply smoky, and perfectly sweet baked beans made effortlessly in a slow cooker. This crowd-pleasing side dish features crispy bacon, tender navy beans, and a tangy molasses sauce that will have everyone asking for the recipe.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound bacon, chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cans (15 oz each) navy beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ cup molasses (unsulphured)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon. Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet.
  2. Add the diced onion to the skillet with the reserved bacon fat and cook over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until smooth.
  4. Place the drained and rinsed beans in a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Add the cooked bacon and sautéed onions on top. Pour the sauce mixture over everything and stir gently to combine.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the sauce has thickened and the flavors have melded. Stir halfway through if possible.
  6. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Let the beans rest for 10 minutes before serving. They will thicken slightly as they cool.

Notes

Do not skip browning the bacon first; adding it raw results in greasy beans and rubbery bacon. For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and use 2 tablespoons liquid smoke and 1 tablespoon smoked paprika. The beans taste even better the next day after flavors meld. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker baked beans, smoky bacon baked beans, easy baked beans, homemade baked beans, barbecue side dish, potluck beans

Find it online: https://lindabake.com/best-easy-slow-cooker-smoky-bacon-baked-beans/