Smokey Sweet Baked Beans
These Smokey Sweet Baked Beans are the perfect side dish for any BBQ. The flavors of smoked paprika, sweet potato, and molasses sets them apart from ordinary canned beans. Then, of course, I added bacon. You know I did.
What are baked beans without bacon? “Nothing,” I say; just boring beans.
This classic side dish, however, is delicious with that sweet and smokey combination over those baked beans.
In fact, these beans are exactly what I love to serve with my Spicy Honey Chicken Drumsticks, then slop up with my Parmesan Garlic Toast. So good!
Making Smokey Sweet Baked Beans
In a Dutch oven, cook the chopped onion and 1/2 teaspoon of salt over medium-low heat.
Let the heat cook and caramelize the onions to a lovely golden brown.
Stir occasionally. If the onion starts to stick to the pan, add 1 – 2 tablespoons of water at a time.
This takes about 15 – 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel the sweet potato, then either grate it, or chop it into small pieces.
Once the onions are golden brown, increase the heat to medium-high and add the sweet potato for about 3 minutes to soften. Stir often.
Next, add the tomato sauce, mustard, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and remaining 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt.
Continue cooking until sauce thickens up a bit, about 3 minutes.
Moving on, stir in the beans, chicken stock, molasses, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, butter, and half the crumbled bacon.
In other words, we’re saving the rest of the bacon for last.
Cover the Dutch oven and bake in a preheated oven set at 350° until the beans are bubbling around the edges, about 25 minutes.
Then, uncover and continue baking for another 30 minutes, or until the top is caramelized.
Remove from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes.
Don’t forget the bacon. Gadzooks, that would be a tremendous loss if forgotten! Sprinkle what’s remaining on top.
You can also transfer the beans to a serving dish if you’re feeling a little fancy tonight.
Last, but not least, a sprinkle of chopped parsley never hurt anyone, plus it’s pretty.
Now, go eat them beans, but remember, they’re a musical fruit. The more you eat, the more you toot. Ha!
More Side Dish Recipes:
- Roasted Small Potatoes
- Tex-Mex Pesto Pasta
- Cheddar Ranch Dinner Rolls
- Summer Garden Pasta Salad
- All American Potato Salad
…and more HERE. Also, you can always click on “Side Dishes” under the “Recipes” drop down menu at the top of the page.
If you tried and loved this recipe, please rate it with 5-stars on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment below. Thank you so much!
Smokey Sweet Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet onion, (approx. 1 1/2 cups) chopped
- 3 tsp. kosher salt, divided
- 1 cup sweet potato, pealed and finely diced or grated (from 1 small sweet potato)
- 15 oz. tomato sauce
- 4 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 2 22 oz. cans Bush's Grillin' Baked Beans
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- In Dutch oven, cook onion and 1/2 teaspoon of salt over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until caramelized and golden brown (15 - 20 min.). Add 1 - 2 tablespoons of water at a time, if needed, if onion sticks to bottom of pan.
- Increase heat to medium-high and add sweet potato. Stir often until sweet potato softens (5 min.).
- Add tomato sauce, mustard, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and remaining 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Continue cooking, stirring often, until sauce thickens (3 min.).
- Add beans, chicken stock, molasses, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, butter, and half of bacon crumbles. Stir to combine.
- Cover and bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until beans are just starting to bubble around edges, then uncover. Bake for another 25 - 30 minutes until caramelized on top. Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.
- Transfer to a serving dish if desired and sprinkle remaining crumbled bacon on top. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Smokey Sweet Baked Beans
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My Collected Recipes
A quick mention of this wonderful blank recipe book that I helped to create with a very dear friend. Write in one or more recipes before giving it to that special person, then they can fill the remaining pages with their favorites, and/or have other special people write out recipes for them. It’s personal, and yes, it takes time and effort — something we’ve gotten away from with all this technology. Check it out HERE where you can order a hard or soft cover. Once there, click on READ SAMPLE to see the pages within. I especially like the “measurements and conversions” page. Also, I make no money from any sales, I just love the idea of this book. Missing my mom as I do, seeing her handwriting always makes me feel closer to her. Give that gift to someone else by writing out a favorite recipe.
