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Easy Crockpot Baked Beans with Smoky Bacon

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A comforting and easy baked beans recipe made in a crockpot with smoky bacon, molasses, and simple pantry ingredients. Perfect for busy days and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (270g) dry navy beans
  • 6 slices smoky bacon, thick-cut
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • ¼ cup (60ml) molasses
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 4 cups (950ml) water or low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Rinse 1 ½ cups (270g) of dry navy beans under cold water. Soak them overnight or use the quick soak method: cover with water, bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse.
  2. Dice 6 slices of smoky bacon. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pan.
  3. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion to the bacon fat and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add 3 minced garlic cloves, cooking another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Stir in 3 tbsp tomato paste, ¼ cup (60ml) molasses, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper. Mix well until the tomato paste is evenly distributed and sauce is glossy.
  5. Add the soaked beans, sautéed bacon, and sauce mixture to the crockpot. Pour in 4 cups (950ml) of water or low-sodium chicken broth, stirring to combine.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Beans should be tender but not falling apart. Stir occasionally if possible, but not necessary.
  7. About 30 minutes before serving, taste the beans and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or a splash of vinegar for brightness if needed.
  8. Serve warm with some of the thickened sauce and smoky bacon pieces.

Notes

Do not skip soaking the beans to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility. If sauce is too thin at the end, cook uncovered on high for 20-30 minutes to thicken. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and add 1 tsp liquid smoke and extra smoked paprika. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for vegetarian. Using canned beans reduces cooking time significantly.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, crockpot, slow cooker, smoky bacon, comfort food, easy recipe, molasses, navy beans

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/easy-crockpot-baked-beans-with-smoky-bacon-recipe-for-perfect-comfort-food/