Summer BBQ Baked Beans Bacon (Printable Version)

Brown sugar and crispy bacon flavor tender beans—perfect side for BBQs and picnics.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans and Main Components

01 - 4 cups canned navy beans, drained and rinsed (approximately 2 cans, 30 ounces total)
02 - 8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, finely diced

→ Sauce

05 - 3/4 cup ketchup
06 - 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
07 - 1/4 cup molasses
08 - 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
09 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (gluten-free if preferred)
10 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
02 - In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pan.
03 - Add diced onion and green bell pepper to the pan and sauté for 4–5 minutes, until soft and translucent.
04 - Stir in drained navy beans, cooked bacon (reserve 2 tablespoons for topping), and all prepared sauce ingredients. Mix thoroughly to combine.
05 - Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then remove from heat.
06 - If not using an oven-safe pan, transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle reserved bacon evenly over the top.
07 - Bake uncovered for 1 hour, until beans are bubbling and the sauce is thickened.
08 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving to enhance flavor and consistency.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It's the dish everyone scoops onto their plate before deciding what else to eat—that's how much pull these beans have.
  • The caramelized bacon and brown sugar topping creates a perfect bite every time, and you can tweak the heat so it fits your crew.
02 -
  • Once, I rushed and skipped draining the beans—the sauce went runny and never thickened in the oven.
  • Sprinkling fresh bacon on top after baking makes the best contrast between chewy and crunchy.
03 -
  • Reserve bacon for topping—not just for flavor, but also for texture that makes the dish irresistible.
  • Let the beans cool slightly before serving; sauce thickens and flavors blossom when not piping hot.
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