Slow Cooker Baked Beans Recipe
This Slow Cooker Baked Beans recipe features tender, flavorful baked beans simmered slowly with crispy bacon, onions, sweet molasses, and a blend of classic seasonings. Perfect as a hearty side dish for barbecues or family dinners, this recipe combines ease and rich taste with minimal effort using a slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 7 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Fat
- 8 slices bacon (plus 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat)
Vegetables
- 1 large onion (finely diced)
- ½ green bell pepper (finely diced, optional)
Beans
- 56 ounces canned baked beans (or pork and beans, 2 x 28 oz cans)
- 15 ounces canned navy beans (drained and rinsed, 1 can)
Condiments & Sauces
- ⅔ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup molasses
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar (dark or light)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Spices & Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until it becomes crispy. Remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat for cooking the onions. Crumble the cooked bacon and refrigerate it for garnish later.
- Sauté the Onion: Using the reserved bacon fat in the skillet, add the finely diced onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: In the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker, mix together the sautéed onions, ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard powder.
- Add the Beans and Peppers: Stir in the canned baked beans, drained navy beans, and the optional diced green bell pepper. Add half of the crumbled bacon to the mixture and stir everything to combine evenly.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on the low setting for 7 to 8 hours or on the high setting for 3 to 4 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the beans to soften thoroughly.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Before serving, season the beans with salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish the baked beans with the reserved crumbled bacon for a savory finish.
Notes
- If you prefer spicier baked beans, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili flakes during the slow cooking stage.
- Using pork and beans instead of baked beans will give a slightly different flavor but still works well.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and use olive oil to sauté the onions; also skip the Worcestershire sauce or use a vegetarian alternative.
- Beans can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated; flavors often improve after resting overnight.
- Make sure to stir halfway through cooking if possible to prevent sticking, especially on high heat.
Keywords: baked beans, slow cooker beans, bacon baked beans, easy side dish, comfort food, picnic recipe, barbecue side
Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/slow-cooker-baked-beans-recipe/
