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Comforting Bulk Baked Beans Recipe with Crispy Bacon Bits Made Easy

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A cozy, slow-baked navy beans recipe with smoky, crispy bacon bits in a tangy-sweet sauce, perfect for potlucks and family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds dried navy beans, soaked overnight or quick-soaked
  • 1 pound smoked bacon, chopped into small bits
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
  • 4 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Place the navy beans in a large bowl and cover with at least 3 inches of cold water. Soak overnight (8–12 hours) or quick-soak by boiling for 5 minutes then letting sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse before cooking.
  2. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp and golden, about 8 minutes. Remove bacon bits with a slotted spoon onto paper towels to drain. Leave 1 tablespoon bacon fat in skillet.
  4. Add diced onion to bacon fat and cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook 1 more minute until fragrant. Remove from heat.
  5. In a bowl, whisk together tomato paste, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Add 4 cups water or broth and stir until smooth.
  6. In a large oven-safe Dutch oven or baking dish, combine soaked beans, sautéed onions and garlic, sauce mixture, and half of the crispy bacon bits. Stir gently to combine.
  7. Cover dish with lid or foil and bake for 2 to 2.5 hours, stirring every 45 minutes, until beans are tender and sauce thickened.
  8. Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining crispy bacon bits on top.
  9. Let beans sit for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Adjust salt or pepper if needed.

Notes

If sauce is too thick during baking, stir in extra water or broth. If too thin near the end, bake uncovered for last 20 minutes to reduce liquid. Reserve half the bacon bits for topping to keep them crispy. Season at the end to avoid over-salting. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and Worcestershire sauce, use smoked paprika and liquid smoke instead.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, bacon bits, slow baked beans, comfort food, potluck recipe, navy beans, smoky baked beans

Find it online: https://gleefulfork.com/comforting-bulk-baked-beans-recipe-with-crispy-bacon-bits-made-easy/