Bacon-baked beans taste like the smoked dish at your favorite barbecue restaurant. Perfectly tender beans in a rich molasses and brown sugar sauce, with the slightest touch of spiciness. This dish is always a hit in shared meals and cookouts – bring the recipe, because everyone will ask for it!
Nothing says summer like an al fresco meal! My perfect summer BBQ menu includes shredded chicken burgers and sandwiches, southern potato salad, macaroni salad, and these slow-cooker baked beans, of course!
<img src="https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Crockpot-Baked-Beans-with-Bacon-1-WIDE.jpg" alt="Ingredients for
Bacon Baked Beans Have you ever tried baked beans
so smoky and rich that you could eat them alone for a main course meal?
Well, slow-cooker baked beans from scratch are those beans of your dreams! Ingredient Notes
and Substitutions
- Dry Pinto Beans
Making beans
baked from scratch in a slow cooker requires soaking the dried beans overnight first. If you are in a hurry, you can use canned beans instead.
For a creamier texture, use navy blue beans or cannellini. Or, try Great Northern beans for a firmer texture with a hint of nutty.
Just be sure to drain and rinse canned beans if you use them instead of dried
.
- Bacon – I recommend using thickly cut bacon so that you have a good amount of meat in the beans. There is so much fat in thin cut bacon that it tends to melt.
- Onion and garlic – Fresh onion adds extra texture to these beans baked in slow pot with bacon. In a pinch, you can substitute both ingredients with 1 tablespoon of onion powder and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Molasses, brown sugar and ketchup: This trio creates the basis for sweet and savory sauce.
- Condiments: Apple cider vinegar adds a touch of flavor, while dried chipotle pepper creates lovely warmth and spices. Don’t forget salt and pepper! Both are essential for any dish.
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Baked Bean Recipe Notes Crock Pot
I think it’s
more convenient to let the beans soak overnight first
.
Soaking not only shortens cooking time, but also helps remove any sediment that you may have missed when you sorted them.
Plus, it
ensures your baked beans with bacon come out perfectly tender, because soaked beans absorb flavors more easily.
Advance preparation instructions
In addition to soaking the beans ahead, you can also cook the
bacon in advance.
I like to bake bacon in the oven because I can cook a larger batch and then use some for breakfast the next morning.
Also, baking it doesn’t leave a greasy mess on my counters or stove. It is okay to store cooked bacon in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
For the preparation of the feast, you can make baked beans with bacon a day or two in advance. Let them cool before transferring them to a container.
You’ll need to store them in the refrigerator, but you can heat them again in the slow cooker about an hour or two before guests arrive!
Storage and freezing instructions
Allow your baked bacon beans to cool to room temperature first. Then, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 5 days.
You can also freeze slow-cooking beans for up to 3 months. Freeze them in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat them on the stove until they are warm.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bacon Baked Beans
Enjoy!With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other slow cookerside dishes
Originally published May 2014, updated and republished August 2022
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