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Best Bacon Bourbon Baked Beans: Easy Recipe for a Crowd

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Sweet, smoky, and a little boozy, these bacon bourbon baked beans are the ultimate crowd-pleasing side dish. Perfect for barbecues, potlucks, and game days, they come together in under an hour with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced small (about 1 cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cans (15 oz each) navy beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup bourbon
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup molasses (not blackstrap)
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Place a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the diced onion to the bacon fat and cook, stirring often, until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Deglaze with bourbon: Pour the bourbon into the pot and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to cook off some alcohol.
  4. Build the sauce: Add ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne (if using). Stir until smooth and bubbling gently.
  5. Add the beans: Gently fold in the drained and rinsed beans along with the cooked bacon. Stir until all beans are evenly coated.
  6. Simmer or bake: For stovetop, bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. For oven-baked, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), transfer mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish, and bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes until sauce thickens and top is slightly caramelized.
  7. Rest and serve: Let the beans sit for about 5 minutes after cooking. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Do not skip rinsing the canned beans to avoid a cloudy sauce. For a vegetarian version, skip bacon and add 1 tablespoon liquid smoke and 2 tablespoons olive oil. For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free Worcestershire sauce. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: bacon bourbon baked beans, baked beans with bourbon, easy baked beans, crowd-pleasing side dish, barbecue side dish, potluck beans

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/best-bacon-bourbon-baked-beans-easy-recipe-for-a-crowd/