Sweet Savory Gourmet Baked Beans

Get ready to elevate your barbecue or family dinner with these Sweet Savory Gourmet Baked Beans—an irresistible balance of rich, smoky, and tangy flavors. Made with tender navy beans, thick-cut bacon, and a bold homemade sauce featuring molasses, dark brown sugar, and smoked paprika, this dish strikes the perfect combination of sweetness and spice. The sautéed onion and green bell pepper add a delightful layer of aromatic depth, while the Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar provide a subtle tang that complements the dish beautifully. Baked low and slow for optimal flavor, these baked beans are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, perfect for holidays, barbecues, or as a hearty side dish. Ready in just over two hours, this recipe makes enough to serve eight, leaving everyone satisfied and craving seconds.

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:150 mins

Total Time:170 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 cups canned navy beans
• 6 slices thick-cut bacon
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 quarter cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 0.5 cup water

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).

Step 2

In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to cool. Once cooled, chop into small pieces and set aside.

Step 3

Drain off most of the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the skillet and sauté over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and water. Whisk until well blended.

Step 5

In a 9x13-inch baking dish or a large oven-safe Dutch oven, combine the navy beans, sautéed onions and bell pepper, and the sauce. Stir until everything is well coated.

Step 6

Sprinkle the chopped bacon evenly over the top of the bean mixture.

Step 7

Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil or a lid. Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes.

Step 8

After 90 minutes, remove the foil or lid and bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.

Step 9

Remove the beans from the oven and let them rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1726.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2989.1

Total Fat 43.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 14.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.0g
Cholesterol 64.3mg	0%
Sodium 7741.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 572.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 58.1g	0%
Total Sugars 335.2g
Protein 92.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1311.7mg	0%
Iron 34.5mg	0%
Potassium 9243.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 12.8%

Protein: 12.2%

Carbs: 75.0%