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Flavorful Smoky Brown Sugar Baked Beans with Bacon and Jalapeño

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A perfect BBQ side dish featuring smoky brown sugar baked beans with crispy bacon and a gentle heat from jalapeño. This recipe balances sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors for a comforting and exciting dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon
  • ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
  • ½ cup water

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Chop the thick-cut bacon into bite-sized pieces. In a skillet over medium heat, cook until crisp but not burnt, about 6-8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
  3. Add the finely chopped onion and jalapeño to the bacon fat. Cook for 4-5 minutes until softened and fragrant, stirring often to prevent browning. Add the minced garlic in the last minute to avoid burning.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the drained beans, cooked bacon, sautéed onion mixture, brown sugar, ketchup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, and water. Mix gently to coat the beans evenly without mashing them.
  5. Pour the mixture into your Dutch oven or a greased baking dish. Spread out evenly but don’t pack it down.
  6. Bake uncovered for 60-70 minutes, stirring once halfway through. The sauce should thicken and bubble around the edges, forming a sticky glaze.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If too thick, add a splash of water; if too thin, bake a little longer uncovered.
  8. Let the beans cool for 10 minutes after removing from the oven to deepen flavors and firm up texture.

Notes

Cook bacon slowly over medium heat to avoid bitterness. Remove jalapeño seeds to keep heat moderate. Stir gently to keep beans intact. Let beans rest after baking for better flavor and texture. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and use smoked paprika plus liquid smoke. Can be adapted for slow cooker by cooking bacon and aromatics first, then slow cooking 4-6 hours on low.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, smoky baked beans, brown sugar baked beans, bacon baked beans, jalapeño baked beans, BBQ side dish, smoky beans, sweet and spicy beans

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/flavorful-smoky-brown-sugar-baked-beans-with-bacon-and-jalape-n-o-recipe-for-the-perfect-bbq-side/