Description

A slow-cooked side dish featuring dried navy beans, smoky bacon, molasses, and brown sugar for a sweet, savory, and tangy flavor profile that is perfect for summer cookouts.

Ingredients

Scale

1.5 pounds dried navy beans or Great Northern beans
1 pound smoked bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup ketchup or tomato sauce

Instructions

Soak the dried beans in a large bowl covered with at least 3 inches of cold water overnight (8-12 hours). Drain and rinse thoroughly before use.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy but not burnt, about 8-10 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
Add the diced onion to the bacon fat and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add the drained beans, cooked onions, bacon, and all rendered fat to the slow cooker.
Add the brown sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, Dijon mustard, ketchup, and garlic. Stir well to combine.
Pour in the chicken broth. Stir everything together. The liquid should just barely cover the beans.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours until beans are tender and sauce has thickened. If in a rush, cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, though texture may suffer.
Once tender, stir well. If sauce is too thin, leave lid off for last 30 minutes to reduce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or vinegar. Serve hot.

Notes

Do not skip the soaking step as it ensures even cooking and better digestion. Save the rendered bacon fat for maximum flavor. The beans taste better the next day as flavors meld. If using canned beans, add them during the last 2 hours of cooking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6-8 hours
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 320
Sugar: 18
Sodium: 650
Fat: 8
Saturated Fat: 3
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 8
Protein: 18

Keywords: baked beans, crockpot recipes, slow cooker, BBQ side dish, Labor Day, bacon beans, molasses beans, summer cookout, comfort food