Elevate your next backyard barbecue or cozy family dinner with these irresistibly rich and flavorful Spirited Baked Beans. This recipe takes traditional baked beans to new heights with a smoky-sweet sauce infused with a splash of bourbon for a tantalizing depth of flavor. Tender navy beans are baked to perfection alongside crispy bacon, caramelized onions, and a blend of bold ingredients like molasses, Dijon mustard, and smoked paprika, creating a balance of smoky, tangy, and slightly boozy notes. With just 15 minutes of prep time and the oven doing the rest, this dish is as easy as it is satisfying. Perfect as a crowd-pleasing side dish or hearty main, these bourbon-baked beans are a must-have for your recipe repertoire.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Once cool, crumble the bacon into small pieces and set aside.
Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the skillet, and discard the rest. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sautéed onions and garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, bourbon, salt, black pepper, and water. Stir until well combined.
Add the navy beans to the bowl and mix gently, ensuring the beans are coated with the sauce.
Transfer the bean mixture to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon evenly over the top.
Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 60-75 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the sauce has thickened and the beans are bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let the beans cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Calories |
2106 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 24.4 g | 31% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.1 g | 36% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 48 mg | 16% | |
| Sodium | 5843 mg | 254% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 371.4 g | 135% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 54.9 g | 196% | |
| Total Sugars | 138.9 g | ||
| Protein | 96.1 g | 192% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 743 mg | 57% | |
| Iron | 20.5 mg | 114% | |
| Potassium | 4865 mg | 104% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.