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Smoky Bourbon BBQ Baked Beans

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The ultimate easy cookout side dish featuring smoky, sweet, and boozy flavors. Ready in under an hour with simple pantry ingredients, these baked beans taste like they’ve been simmering all day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped (thick-cut, applewood-smoked preferred)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cans (15 oz each) navy beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup bourbon (e.g., Buffalo Trace or Bulleit)
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (sweet)
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • Salt and black pepper to taste (start with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper)

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Place a large Dutch oven over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pot.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion to the hot bacon fat. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Deglaze with bourbon: Pour in the bourbon and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes until the alcohol smell cooks off and the liquid reduces slightly.
  4. Build the sauce: Add ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and liquid smoke. Stir until well combined.
  5. Add the beans: Gently fold in the drained and rinsed beans along with the cooked bacon. Stir until all beans are coated. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  6. Simmer and thicken: Reduce heat to low and let simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  7. Rest and serve: Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or chopped green onions if desired.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, skip the bacon and use 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add extra smoked paprika and liquid smoke. For a spicier version, add 1-2 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo. These beans taste even better the next day and freeze well for up to 3 months. Keep heat on low to prevent burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, bourbon BBQ beans, smoky beans, cookout side, easy baked beans, barbecue side dish

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/smoky-bourbon-bbq-baked-beans-the-best-easy-cookout-side/