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Savory Dr Pepper Baked Beans with Thick-Cut Bacon

Dr Pepper Baked Beans - featured image
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A rich and flavorful baked beans recipe featuring the unique sweetness of Dr Pepper and smoky thick-cut bacon, perfect for gatherings and easy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups cooked navy beans or great northern beans (about 2 cans, drained and rinsed)
  • 8 oz thick-cut bacon, diced
  • 1 cup (240 ml) Dr Pepper
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (50 g)
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. Place diced thick-cut bacon in a cold skillet and cook over medium heat until crispy and golden, about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid burning. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet.
  3. Add chopped onion to the bacon fat and cook over medium heat until soft and translucent, roughly 5 minutes. Toss in minced garlic and stir for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. In a large bowl, combine Dr Pepper, brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well until sugar dissolves.
  5. Add the drained beans, cooked bacon, and sautéed onion-garlic mixture to the sauce bowl. Stir gently to coat everything evenly.
  6. Pour the bean mixture into your prepared oven-safe baking dish or Dutch oven, spreading evenly.
  7. Bake uncovered for 1 to 1.25 hours at 325°F (160°C), stirring once halfway through. The sauce will thicken to a rich glaze, and the beans should be tender but intact.
  8. If you like a crusty top, switch oven to broil for the last 3-5 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn’t burn.
  9. Let the beans cool slightly before serving to help the sauce set for better texture.

Notes

Use thick-cut bacon for best texture and flavor. If beans are too thick near the end, stir in a splash of water or more Dr Pepper. For a vegan version, substitute bacon with smoked tempeh or coconut bacon and brown sugar with maple syrup. Rinse canned beans well to reduce sodium and prevent mushiness. Avoid over-stirring during baking to keep beans intact.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, Dr Pepper, thick-cut bacon, barbecue side dish, easy baked beans, smoky beans, sweet and savory beans

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/savory-dr-pepper-baked-beans-with-thick-cut-bacon-recipe-easy-and-delicious/