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Savory Maple Bacon Baked Beans

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A smoky, sweet, and rich baked beans recipe featuring thick-cut bacon and a subtle touch of maple syrup, perfect as an easy homemade BBQ side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (200g) dried navy beans or 2 (15 oz / 425g) cans navy beans, drained and rinsed
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) pure maple syrup
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1 cup (240ml) water or low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  1. If using dried beans: Rinse 1 cup (200g) navy beans under cold water. Soak overnight or quick-soak by boiling for 2 minutes, then let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse again.
  2. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pot.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the bacon fat and sauté over medium heat until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. If using dried beans, add the soaked beans along with 1 cup (240ml) water or low-sodium chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook gently for 45-50 minutes, or until beans are tender but not mushy. If canned beans are used, skip to step 6.
  5. Drain canned beans if using, and stir them into the onion-garlic mixture. Add tomato paste, maple syrup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and smoked paprika. Stir to combine well.
  6. Chop the cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces and fold into the bean mixture. Season with black pepper and a pinch of salt, tasting carefully because bacon is salty.
  7. Transfer everything to an oven-safe baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the sauce thickens and the top has a slight caramelized crust.
  8. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. The beans will thicken further as they cool.

Notes

If beans seem too thick while baking, add a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce. Stir halfway through baking to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. For vegetarian version, replace bacon with smoked tempeh or liquid smoke and use vegetable broth. This recipe is naturally gluten-free but check condiment labels to be sure.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, maple syrup, bacon, BBQ side dish, homemade baked beans, smoky baked beans, easy baked beans

Find it online: https://evabake.com/savory-maple-bacon-baked-beans-recipe-easy-homemade-bbq-side-dish/