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High-angle view of Easy Baked Beans with Bacon in a sage green ceramic baking dish with fresh thyme sprigs on a burlap background.

Easy Baked Beans with Bacon: The Ultimate Smokey-Sweet Side Dish

This Easy Baked Beans with Bacon recipe features tender navy beans in a thick mahogany molasses sauce, topped with three strips of crispy, charred thick-cut bacon. A perfect Pinterest-ready side dish for any BBQ or family dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 cups
Course: Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 345
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 6 cups Navy Beans Cooked or 3 15oz cans, rinsed
  • 1/2 cup Molasses Unsulphured for deep mahogany color
  • 1/2 cup Dark Brown Sugar Packed
  • 8 slices Thick-Cut Bacon Divided (some diced, some whole strips)
  • 1 cup BBQ Sauce Your favorite smoky brand
  • 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 tsp Dry Mustard
  • 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme For garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Sage Green Ceramic Baking Dish 9x13 rectangular
  • 1 Large Skillet For sautéing bacon and aromatics

Method
 

Prep and Aromatics
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Sauté diced bacon in a skillet until fat renders. Add onion and garlic, cooking until translucent.
  2. In a bowl, whisk molasses, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, vinegar, and mustard until a thick mahogany sauce forms.
Bake
  1. Stir navy beans into the sauce and transfer to a sage green ceramic baking dish.
  2. Lay three whole thick-cut bacon strips across the center of the beans.
  3. Bake for 60 minutes until sauce is bubbling and bacon edges are charred and ruffled. Garnish with fresh thyme.

Notes

Use a ceramic dish for even heating.
Wait 10 minutes before serving to let the glaze set.