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Flavorful Never-Mushy BBQ Baked Beans Recipe with Smoked Bacon Made Easy

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This recipe delivers flavorful, never-mushy BBQ baked beans with smoked bacon, combining smoky richness, tangy sweetness, and perfectly firm beans for a crowd-pleasing side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (about 300g) dry navy beans, soaked overnight
  • 6 ounces (170g) smoked bacon, chopped (preferably thick-cut)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup (120ml) BBQ sauce
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups (480ml) low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soak the beans overnight: Place 1 ½ cups (300g) of dry navy beans in a large bowl and cover with 3 inches (7.5 cm) of cold water. Let soak for 8-12 hours.
  2. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
  3. Cook the bacon in a sauté pan over medium heat until it starts to crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
  4. Add the diced onion to the bacon fat and cook until translucent and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Drain and rinse the soaked beans using a colander.
  6. In a Dutch oven or oven-safe casserole dish, combine the drained beans, sautéed onion and garlic, cooked bacon, tomato paste, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chicken broth, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika (if using). Stir gently to combine.
  7. Cover the dish with a lid or foil and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Check at 1 hour to stir gently; beans should be tender but hold their shape. Add broth or water if liquid is low.
  8. Remove from oven, taste, and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or vinegar if needed.
  9. Let the beans rest for 10 minutes before serving to thicken the sauce and meld flavors.

Notes

Soaking beans overnight is essential to prevent mushiness. Cook bacon slowly to render fat without greasiness. Bake low and slow at 325°F to maintain bean texture. Stir gently during baking to avoid breaking beans. Add acidic ingredients like vinegar at the end to brighten flavor without toughening beans. Let beans rest after baking to thicken sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: BBQ baked beans, smoked bacon, never mushy beans, baked beans recipe, BBQ side dish, potluck recipe, cookout side

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