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Cozy Slow Cooker Baked Beans Recipe with Bacon and Brown Sugar Made Easy

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A hearty and comforting slow cooker baked beans recipe featuring smoky bacon, brown sugar, and molasses, perfect for cozy nights and potlucks with minimal hands-on time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups dried navy beans
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse 1 ½ cups dried navy beans and soak them overnight in cold water, covered by about 2 inches. For a quick soak, boil the beans in water for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse before cooking.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 6 chopped bacon slices and cook until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, but leave the rendered fat in the skillet.
  3. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion to the bacon fat and cook until translucent and slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. In your slow cooker, add the soaked and drained beans, cooked bacon, sautéed onion and garlic, ½ cup packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons molasses, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, and 2 cups chicken broth.
  5. Add salt and black pepper to taste (start with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper). Stir everything gently so the beans are submerged in liquid and evenly coated.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The beans should be tender, and the sauce thick and bubbly. If the beans seem dry during cooking, add a splash more broth or water.
  7. Before serving, taste the beans and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or a splash of vinegar for brightness if needed.

Notes

Soak beans overnight or quick-soak to soften and reduce cooking time. Crisp bacon first and sauté onions and garlic in bacon fat for deeper flavor. Stir gently during cooking to avoid breaking beans. Adjust liquid if beans look dry. For thicker beans, uncover slow cooker in last 30 minutes to evaporate excess liquid. Vegetarian option: omit bacon and use smoked paprika and vegetable broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker baked beans, baked beans with bacon, brown sugar baked beans, easy baked beans recipe, comfort food, slow cooker recipes

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