Print

Savory Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe with Brown Sugar and Bacon

crockpot baked beans - featured image
Print Recipe

A cozy, smoky, and sweet baked beans dish slow-cooked in a crockpot with brown sugar and bacon, perfect for easy weeknight dinners or crowd-pleasing sides.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (about 300g) dry navy beans or great northern beans, soaked overnight
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • ½ cup (packed, about 100g) brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 4 cups (950 ml) water or low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Rinse 1 ½ cups dried navy beans under cold water. Soak them in a large bowl with plenty of water overnight (8-12 hours) or quick-soak by boiling for 5 minutes then letting sit covered for 1 hour. Drain and rinse after soaking.
  2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook 6 slices of chopped bacon until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan.
  3. Add 1 medium chopped yellow onion and 2 minced garlic cloves to the bacon fat. Cook until translucent and fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
  4. Add soaked beans, cooked bacon, sautéed onions and garlic, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and salt and pepper to taste into the crockpot.
  5. Pour in 4 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth. Stir gently to combine.
  6. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until beans are tender but intact and sauce is thickened and bubbly.
  7. About 30 minutes before serving, check seasoning and adjust salt, pepper, or vinegar as needed.
  8. If sauce is too thin, remove lid and cook on high for the last 20-30 minutes to reduce.

Notes

Soak beans overnight for best texture. Sauté onions and garlic in bacon fat for deeper flavor. Cook on low heat to avoid mushy beans. Adjust seasoning near the end. If sauce is thin, reduce by cooking uncovered on high for 20-30 minutes. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and add smoked paprika or liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot baked beans, slow cooker baked beans, baked beans with bacon, brown sugar baked beans, easy baked beans recipe, smoky baked beans, comfort food

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/savory-crockpot-baked-beans-recipe-with-brown-sugar-and-bacon-easy/