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Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Baked Beans with Bacon

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A cozy, easy slow cooker recipe featuring sweet and smoky baked beans with bacon, perfect for comforting meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups dry Great Northern beans (or 4 cans, drained and rinsed)
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped (preferably thick-cut)
  • ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups water or broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Soak the beans (if using dry): Rinse 2 cups of Great Northern beans and soak them overnight in cold water, covering by at least 2 inches. Drain and rinse before cooking. Skip if using canned beans.
  2. Cook the bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook 6 chopped slices of thick-cut bacon until crispy, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove bacon bits with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan.
  3. Sauté onions and garlic: In the same skillet with bacon fat, add 1 finely chopped medium onion. Cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat.
  4. Combine ingredients in slow cooker: Add soaked and drained beans (or canned beans, rinsed), cooked bacon, sautéed onions and garlic, ½ cup packed dark brown sugar, ½ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and 2 cups water or broth to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Check for tenderness near the end—beans should be soft but not mushy.
  6. Season and thicken: About 30 minutes before serving, taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. If beans are too soupy, remove lid and cook on high for last 30 minutes to thicken.
  7. Rest and serve: Let beans sit for 10-15 minutes with lid off to thicken further. Stir and serve warm.

Notes

Brown the bacon and sauté onions and garlic before slow cooking for best flavor. Soak dry beans overnight for even cooking or use canned beans as a shortcut. Add water if beans dry out during cooking. Season with salt at the end to avoid over-salting. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and use smoked paprika or liquid smoke with olive oil.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker baked beans, brown sugar baked beans, baked beans with bacon, comfort food, easy slow cooker recipes, cozy meals

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/slow-cooker-brown-sugar-baked-beans-with-bacon-easy-recipe-for-cozy-meals/