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Best Brown Sugar Bourbon Baked Beans Recipe

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These brown sugar bourbon baked beans are a sweet, smoky, and savory side dish that starts in a pot, not a panic. Perfect for potlucks, game days, and backyard cookouts, they feature a rich, caramelized sauce with a warm bourbon kick.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 28 oz (794g) canned pork and beans (undrained)
  • 15 oz (425g) canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 15 oz (425g) canned butter beans (or lima beans), drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) good quality bourbon
  • 3/4 cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) ketchup
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) molasses
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Chop the bacon into small pieces and dice the onion.
  2. In a large cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
  3. Add the diced onion to the hot bacon fat and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the bourbon, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, black pepper, and smoked paprika until smooth.
  5. To the skillet with the onions, add the undrained pork and beans, drained kidney beans, and drained butter beans. Pour the bourbon sauce over the top and stir gently to combine.
  6. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer on the stovetop (about 3-4 minutes). Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  7. Stir the beans, then sprinkle the cooked bacon pieces evenly over the top. Return to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the edges are bubbly.
  8. Remove from the oven and let rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a non-alcoholic version, substitute 1/2 cup apple juice or apple cider mixed with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. To make vegetarian, omit bacon and add 1-2 teaspoons liquid smoke. The beans taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, brown sugar, bourbon, bacon, side dish, barbecue, potluck, game day

Find it online: https://tablemira.com/best-brown-sugar-bourbon-baked-beans-recipe/