Here’s a classic and hearty Baked Beans recipe — rich, sweet, smoky, and perfect as a side dish for BBQs, potlucks, or comfort food dinners.
🫘 Classic Baked Beans (Oven or Slow Cooker)
🔸 Ingredients:
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4 cups cooked navy beans (or 2–3 cans of navy or great northern beans, drained & rinsed)
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6 slices bacon, chopped (or use ½ cup diced smoked sausage or omit for vegetarian)
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1 medium onion, finely chopped
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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¾ cup ketchup
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½ cup brown sugar
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2 tbsp molasses
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1 tbsp yellow mustard (or Dijon)
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1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
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1 tsp smoked paprika
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½ tsp black pepper
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¼ tsp cayenne (optional, for heat)
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1 cup water (or bean cooking liquid)
🔥 Oven Instructions (Most traditional):
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Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
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Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove and set aside.
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Sauté onions in bacon fat until translucent (about 5 min). Add garlic and cook 1 min more.
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Combine everything:
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In a large bowl or Dutch oven, mix cooked beans, bacon, sautéed onion/garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire, spices, and water.
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Bake:
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Pour mixture into a baking dish or keep in Dutch oven.
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Cover and bake for 1½–2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove lid in the last 30 minutes for a thicker, caramelized top.
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🐢 Slow Cooker Instructions:
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Sauté bacon, onions, and garlic in a skillet as above.
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Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker.
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Cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours. Stir occasionally if possible.
🌱 Vegetarian Version:
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Skip the bacon and add 1 tbsp olive oil when cooking onions.
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Add 1 tsp liquid smoke for that smoky flavor.
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Use vegetarian Worcestershire or soy sauce.
📝 Tips:
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Use molasses for that deep, rich traditional flavor.
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You can sub BBQ sauce for ketchup if you want a smoky twist.
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Make them a meal by adding ground beef or sausage for cowboy beans!
Let me know if you’d like a canned shortcut version, a Boston baked beans variation, or a spicy chipotle twist!
