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smoky bourbon bacon baked beans - featured image

Best Smoky Bourbon Bacon Baked Beans Recipe

  • Author: Sarah Wasserman
  • Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes (plus 8-12 hours soaking)
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

These smoky bourbon bacon baked beans are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, featuring creamy navy beans, crispy bacon, and a rich, sweet-savory sauce with a hint of bourbon warmth. Perfect for cookouts, potlucks, or holiday tables, this easy recipe delivers deep, complex flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried navy beans (or great northern beans), soaked overnight
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced fine
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup bourbon (e.g., Maker’s Mark or Buffalo Trace)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 3 cups water (or enough to cover beans by about an inch)

Instructions

  1. Soak the beans overnight: Place dried beans in a large bowl, cover with cold water by at least 2 inches, and let sit at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours. Drain and rinse well.
  2. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
  3. Cook the bacon: In a Dutch oven or large skillet, cook bacon pieces over medium heat until crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.
  4. Sauté onion and garlic: Add diced onion to the bacon fat and cook over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Deglaze with bourbon: Pour in the bourbon and stir, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Let bubble and reduce for about 2 minutes.
  6. Build the sauce: Add ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Stir until smooth and well combined.
  7. Add beans and water: Stir in drained beans and water. Add cooked bacon back to the pot (reserve a few pieces for topping if desired). Stir to combine.
  8. Bring to a simmer: Place pot over medium-high heat and bring mixture to a gentle simmer, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  9. Transfer to oven: If using an oven-safe pot, cover with a lid and bake. If using a baking dish, pour mixture into dish, cover tightly with foil, and bake. Cook for 2 to 2.5 hours, stirring once halfway through.
  10. Check for doneness: Beans should be tender but not falling apart, and sauce should be thick and syrupy. If too thin, uncover and bake 15 to 20 minutes more. If too thick, stir in a little water.
  11. Rest before serving: Let beans sit for 10 to 15 minutes after coming out of the oven. Top with reserved crispy bacon pieces right before serving.

Notes

For a quicker version, use three 15-ounce cans of navy beans (drained and rinsed) and reduce oven time to 1 to 1.5 hours. For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. For a lower-sugar option, reduce brown sugar to 2 tablespoons and use sugar-free ketchup. The flavors deepen overnight, making this a great make-ahead dish.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 c
  • Calories: 385
  • Sugar: 22
  • Sodium: 680
  • Fat: 12
  • Saturated Fat: 4
  • Carbohydrates: 52
  • Fiber: 12
  • Protein: 16

Keywords: baked beans, bourbon bacon baked beans, smoky baked beans, barbecue side dish, navy beans, potluck recipe, Southern baked beans

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Find it online: https://flavorfullrecipes.com/best-smoky-bourbon-bacon-baked-beans-recipe/