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Best Brown Sugar Bourbon Baked Beans for a Crowd – Easy Recipe

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These sweet, smoky, and savory baked beans are the perfect side dish for any gathering. Made with brown sugar, bourbon, and simple ingredients, they’re incredibly easy to prepare and always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup good quality bourbon
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cans (15 oz each) navy or great northern beans, drained and rinsed

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. Cook the bacon: Place a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the bacon slices in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping once, until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, let cool, then crumble. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pot.
  3. Sauté the onion: Add the diced onion to the pot with the bacon fat. Cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent.
  4. Add the garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Deglaze with bourbon: Pour in the bourbon, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes until reduced by half.
  6. Build the sauce: Add the brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Stir until smooth and well combined.
  7. Add the beans: Gently stir in the drained and rinsed beans until evenly coated.
  8. Stir in the bacon: Add most of the crumbled bacon, reserving a small handful for topping if desired. Stir to distribute.
  9. Bake: Place the pot in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir gently after 45 minutes. The beans are done when the sauce is thick, bubbly, and darkened.
  10. Rest and serve: Let the beans rest for 10-15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle reserved bacon on top if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip the resting time—it allows the sauce to thicken. For a vegetarian version, skip the bacon and add 1 teaspoon liquid smoke. For a spicier version, add diced jalapeños or cayenne pepper. The beans can be made 1-2 days in advance and taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, brown sugar, bourbon, crowd, easy, side dish, barbecue, potluck

Find it online: https://zestynora.com/best-brown-sugar-bourbon-baked-beans-for-a-crowd-easy-recipe/