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Savory Maple Bourbon Baked Beans Recipe with Crispy Bacon

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A smoky-sweet baked beans recipe featuring maple syrup, bourbon, and crispy thick-cut bacon for a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and boozy flavors. Ideal for cookouts, holiday meals, or cozy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups navy or great northern beans (about 2 cans, 15 oz each), drained and rinsed
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup (Grade A amber preferred)
  • 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer bacon pieces to a paper-towel-lined plate, leaving the bacon fat in the skillet.
  3. Add diced onion to the bacon fat and cook for 5-7 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the bourbon carefully, scraping the bottom of the pan to lift browned bits. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Stir in maple syrup, Dijon mustard, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes to meld flavors.
  6. Fold in drained beans and chicken broth gently. Bring to a simmer.
  7. Transfer mixture to an oven-safe baking dish or Dutch oven. Sprinkle crispy bacon evenly on top.
  8. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until sauce thickens and top is slightly caramelized. Check at 40 minutes and add broth if too dry.
  9. Let beans rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra crispy bacon bits, reserve a couple of slices to crumble on top just before serving. Use real maple syrup for best flavor. If avoiding alcohol, substitute bourbon with extra broth and apple cider vinegar plus smoked paprika. Let beans rest after baking to thicken sauce and deepen flavors. Leftovers store well refrigerated up to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, maple syrup, bourbon, bacon, smoky, sweet, savory, comfort food, cookout, holiday side

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