Savory Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe with Brown Sugar and Bacon Easy
A comforting and easy slow-cooked baked beans recipe featuring smoky bacon and sweet brown sugar, perfect for potlucks and BBQs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes plus overnight soaking
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes plus overnight soaking
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound dried navy beans (or great northern beans), soaked overnight
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
- Optional: 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Place dried navy beans in a large bowl and cover with cold water by at least 2 inches. Soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse before cooking.
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet.
- Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the bacon fat and sauté over medium heat until translucent and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
- Transfer sautéed onion and garlic to the slow cooker. Add soaked beans, cooked bacon, brown sugar, ketchup, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and water or chicken broth.
- If desired, stir in smoked paprika for extra smoky flavor.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until beans are tender and sauce has thickened. Check after 6 hours and add a splash of water if needed.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or brown sugar as desired. To thicken sauce, cook uncovered on high for an additional 30 minutes.
- Serve warm, ideally with grilled meats or buttery rolls.
Notes
Soak beans overnight for best texture and even cooking. Crisp bacon first to add flavor and fat for sautéing onions and garlic. Avoid stirring too often during cooking to prevent beans from breaking down. Adjust liquid as needed to avoid soupy beans. For vegetarian version, replace bacon with smoked paprika and liquid smoke or smoked tempeh.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 10
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 14
Keywords: baked beans, crockpot, slow cooker, brown sugar, bacon, easy recipe, potluck, BBQ, savory beans