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Easy Easiest Baked Beans Recipe for Sweet Smoky Flavor at Home

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A quick and simple baked beans recipe delivering a perfect balance of sweet molasses and smoky paprika flavors, ideal for weeknight dinners or gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) canned navy beans, drained and rinsed
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped (optional but highly recommended)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup (65 g) brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) water or broth

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
  3. Add diced onion to the bacon fat and cook for 4-5 minutes until translucent and slightly caramelized. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, black pepper, and water or broth until smooth.
  5. In a large bowl, gently fold the drained navy beans, cooked bacon, and sautéed onion-garlic mixture. Pour the sauce over and stir until evenly coated. Adjust salt to taste.
  6. Transfer the bean mixture to an 8×8-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
  7. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until the sauce thickens and bubbles, and the top develops a slight caramelized crust.
  8. Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

If the sauce is too thick before baking, add a splash more water or broth. If too runny after baking, broil for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the top, watching closely to avoid burning. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and increase smoked paprika and liquid smoke. Beans taste better the next day after flavors meld. Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, sweet baked beans, smoky baked beans, easy baked beans, quick side dish, comfort food, navy beans, molasses, smoked paprika

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/easy-easiest-baked-beans-recipe-for-sweet-smoky-flavor-at-home/