These southern style Homemade Bacon, Bourbon & Brown Sugar Baked Beans are jam packed with bold BBQ flavor and taste a billion times better than the stuff from a can! Smoky, spicy, and sweet, these beans are perfect for your next potluck, barbecue or summer soiree! This recipe includes instructions for canned or dried beans, plus directions for the oven, stove top and slow cooker!
**This post was originally published in June 2015. I took new photos and updated the recipe. The actual written words in this post remain the same.**
Hi-ya all! Happy almost Father’s Day weekend!
I hope all the daughters (or wives) have plans to show the love and provide lots of fantastic food for dad this weekend!
And, I hope all the papas out there bask in the love and laughter!
Today I am sharing a recipe for magical fruit, because no summer gathering is really complete without them.
But first, I want to talk about me for a hot minute. 🙂
There is an ever present and reoccurring theme in my life as of late. The theme that tragedy and heartache are accompanied by joyful moments and cheer. I do not want to dwell on, or talk about, the heartbreaking events that occurred over the weekend, but instead, I would like to share a wonderful one.
You may (or may not) have noticed the Daily Meal banner on the side this site. It’s there because I am a part of their Culinary Content Network. (UPDATE: Banner is no longer there)
Every week they have a ‘Sharing With A Theme’ recipe round-up, and this past week the theme was shrimp. My margarita shrimp taco tarts landed me the coveted spot of the week’s recipe winner. (<—That is just the good news)
The article was picked up by MSN.com and featured on their homepage Saturday. The wonderful news is that one of my photos was the feature photo for the article. Therefore, my tart photo was on the homepage of MSN all day Saturday. (You can check out the article here.)
I understand that this fete may not seem like a big deal to some people. But to me, it is huge. So I am going to bask in the glory and Woot-Woot it up, dang it!
(Insert feet kicked up and me lounging in the wondrousness of life here…)
Okay, enough gloating. Onto beans, beans… the magical fruit!
Bourbon Brown Sugar Baked Beans with Candied Bacon.
These beans are a part of the #NSNThrill4UrGrill series and they are the perfect side dish for any BBQ, grill out, or outdoor shindig.
I know everyone has a recipe for baked beans, and everyone claims theirs are the best. I’m not bold (or naïve) enough to stake that claim.
I have not tried every single bean recipe out there.
Plus, I’m not about to hate on everyone else’s recipe just to make mine seem better. That’s kinda lame and I simply don’t roll like that.
I can, however, confidently state that these beans right here, they are pretty freggin’ epic.
Boy has been devouring these melt in your mouth, magically delicious beans thrice daily for a week and has requested I make more.
These baked bad boys are smoky, boozy, spicy, sweet, meaty and tender. And, they are jam packed with bold, bodacious BBQ flavor.
Not to mention, they are a BILLION times better than that crap in a can.
But, they are made even more amazing with the addition of candied bacon. Because, well… candied bacon! Hello!?
The sweet crispness of the bacon adds that je-ne-sais-quoi to the beans and takes their flavor to a stratospheric level of yum.
These beans rock the dang house, but instead of taking my word for it, you should most definitely make these beans for your next BBQ hoedown. I can guarantee everyone will love them. Until next time, Cheers and happy cooking!
-xoxo-
Cheyanne
- ½ Pound Thick Cut Bacon , cut into pieces
- 1 medium Yellow Onion , finely diced (about heaping cup)
- ½ Green Bell Pepper , finely diced (about ½ cup)
- 3 large Cloves Garlic , minced
- 2 (28 ounce) cans Navy Beans , drained and rinsed*
- 1 Cup Bourbon
- 1 Cup Ketchup
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar , packed
- 1/3 Cup Molasses
- 2 TBS Yellow Mustard (can substitute Dijon)
- 2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
- Kosher Salt and Pepper , to taste
- 1 Cup Hot Water or Broth* (more as needed)
- ½ pound Thick Cut Bacon
- ½ Cup Dark Brown Sugar , packed
- ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/8 tsp Cinnamon
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat* and add chopped bacon. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the onion, bell pepper and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant and the bacon is browned, about 1 minute.
- Add in the remaining ingredients (if using slow cooker method, reduce water to ½ cup*), stirring to make sure everything is well combined. Season generously with salt and pepper. Bring everything to a simmer and cover with a tight fitting lid.
- OVEN: Cover pot and transfer it to a preheat 300 degree F oven. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking. Remove the lid, stir, and continue to bake until the sauce is thickened and sticky, about an additional 30-45 minutes. If needed during baking, add more water to adjust consistency.
- STOVE TOP: Cover pot and reduce heat to medium low. Cook, stirring at 30 minute intervals, for 1 ½ hours, or until the sauce is thickened and sticky.
- SLOW COOKER: (Make sure you reduced water to ½ cup in step 2) Transfer everything to the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on LOW.
- Taste beans and adjust for salt and pepper to taste. Top with crumbled candied bacon if using.
- For the candied bacon: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Place a wire rack insert into the sheet pan. In a shallow dish combine the sugar, cayenne, cinnamon and a pinch of black pepper. Working one slice of bacon at a time, press and rub the sugar mixture onto the bacon. Transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with remaining slices of bacon. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bacon is crip and cooked through. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Allow to cool. Cut or crumble bacon into desired sized pieces.
*You can substitute any kind of beans you would like: Northern, Pinto, Red Kidney Beans, or use a mix of two!
*If your bacon is lean, add a small drizzle of oil to the pan before adding the bacon. *If the beans aren’t thickened and sticky, continue to cook them with the lid OFF until mixture thickens to desired consistency.
*If you want to cook the beans in the oven AND garnish with candied bacon, cook the candied bacon in advance. It will keep in a zip-closure bag, or container with a tight fitting lid, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
*To Use Dried Beans: (You will need 1 pound of dried beans)
1. Soak Beans:
Overnight method: Whisk together 8 cups of water with ½ tsp baking soda and 2 TBS kosher salt in a large pot. Add the beans, cover, and let soak at room temperature overnight (or about 8 hours). Transfer to a colander to drain and rinse well with running water.
Quick soak method: Place beans in a large pot with ½ tsp baking soda and 2 TBS kosher salt. Add enough water to cover the beans by 2-3’’. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook 3 minutes. Remove beans from heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Transfer beans to a colander to drain and rinse well with running water.
2. Cook Beans: Add beans back to the pot and add enough water to cover the beans by 3’’. Bring beans to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 1 hour. Drain and proceed with recipe as instructed.
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Yes! I’m the first to congratulate you on your good news!!! It doesn’t surprise me at all. You’re recipes are always inspiring and your photos make us all want to dig in! This one is no different. 🙂
The recurrent theme of your life is one I think many of us can identify it. Here I sit at 50 years old and I have finally come to accept that this is just life, the good and the bad. They both come and go. I no longer project either of them into the future but enjoy the good while I have it and endure the bad until it passes, and it always does.
Here’s hoping whatever it troubling you passes quickly! Your outlook on life is inspiring for us all. 🙂
Hugs and best wishes!
LOL! You sure are the first person to congratulate me, Tammy! Well aside from my husband, sister and MOD. Thank you for the congrats!! 🙂 I somehow figured you would be able to identify with this recurrent theme of life. It is so true, life is filled with peaks and valleys. I am thankful that I have become someone who has lived through enough to embrace this reality. Now I relish in every SINGLE blessing and live in every wonderful moment like it may be the last. And you are so right (of course!) all the bad in life, it does pass! Cheers and hugs back at ya! 🙂
Why aren’t these on my desk for lunch? Seriously, looks great, I need to make some baked beans. Keep your chin up buddy, you have a lot of good things and good people in your life:)
I don’t deliver or I would have had them waiting for you on your desk, Adam. However, then I would expect a fresh delivery of the next fish you catch! Thanks for being such a great friend 🙂 My chin is up! Cheers, buddy!
Congrats on your big feature! I am so glad for you!! seriously! and on to the beans! my gosh I love beaked beans, but Candied bacon?? this is just screaming Gaila all over!!
Do you deliver?
hahahaha, Congrats again so happy for you! hugs my sweet girl!
Thanks Gaila! Candied bacon is totally where it’s at. I had to keep smacking my husbands hands away because I needed the bacon for the shoot. Finally I gave up, allowed him to eat all the candied bacon, and simply made more! If I delivered you would be the first to get a present! Cheers and thanks for the kind words, girlie! xoxo
Congrats on your winning recipe!! Your margarita shrimp taco tarts sound amazing!!! and Lord knows I need more bacon bourbon brown sugar baked beans in my life!!! that’s a lot of B’s! 😛 Happy Monday!!
Thanks, Alice! Apparently good things start with the letter B! And everyone needs more bacon and bourbon in their life. Preferably with brown sugar and beans 🙂 Hope you had a great (and safe!) Monday! Cheers!
Congratulations on your feature, Cheyanne! That is a big deal!! I’m not an expert bean maker, but I am an expert baked beans eater and yours sounds awesome! And with bourbon and candied bacon, I know that it’s good! Sending you happy thoughts and warm wishes. 🙂
Thanks, Thao! Being an expert bean eater is a great thing, you can simply demand other people make them for you! lol! The bourbon and candied bacon really do make these beans something special! Thanks for the happy thoughts, warm wishes, and kind words!! Cheers! 🙂 To a beautiful day, my friend!
Cheers and a huge CONGRATULATIONS on your shrimp tart recipe being featured on The Daily Meal AND MSN! Woot! Woot! I saw that shrimp tart and you totally deserve it. Your recipes are so creative and original and your photography is gorgeously stunning!
Now, about these beans. I totally wish I had this recipe 2 days ago, because I would have had these at our bbq yesterday. Boubon, brown sugar, and candied bacon sounds soooooo friggin awesome! And I didn’t know to use baking soda when soaking beans. I just always throw them in water overnight. I do happen to have some bourbon on hand so I’m thinking these tootie tastic beans need to make an appearance at my house this weekend.
Thanks, Rachelle! I was totally bouncing off the walls and Woot-Wootin’ it up on Saturday! Your unbelievably sweet words totally just made my day – so thanks for that!! Sorry I didn’t post these earlier! I was originally going to, but then I decided to do the Father’s Day dude blogger round up. Opps!! My Bad! Baking soda when soaking the beans was a trick an instructor taught us in culinary school… it definately helps the beans from bursting and keeps them suuuuper tender, yet whole. Hope you do try these toot tastic baked beans.. they are well worth the noise they may create! 😉 (hahahaha. i’m a dork, i know) Cheers, girlie!
Seriously dying right now!! I want the whole thing! This is going to be perfect at our next BBQ. Thanks for sharing, Cheyanne!
Thanks, Lauren! These beans are so good I wanted to eat the whole vat… lucky for me Boy would NEVER allow that. He’s not much into sharing! 😉 These are perfect for a BBQ, they totally blow the canned stuff out of the water ( <---- But thats easy to do). Cheers, girlie!!
Congratulations, Cheyanne! That is such wonderful news – those taco tarts looked amazing! I am also a DM member and I’ve been loving it so far 🙂 Now, these baked beans look out of this world! Candied bacon? Omggg…I’m so in love with this dish..I’m thinking it will be perfect to whip up for 4th! Gorgeous job, Cheyanne <3
Thanks, Beeta! I know we are DM sistahs! I see your posts on the content FB page and always hit “like”… because you ALWAYS have me drooling! The candied bacon totally makes these beans, but I mean candied bacon could make the wood on your floors taste delicious. 🙂 Thanks for always making me smile and cheers to a beautiful day, my sweets! xo
These are crazy! Congratulations!
Thanks, Erin! 🙂 Crazy is always a good thing! (unless it’s in reference to some woman who is stalking your man. lol)
Congratulations on the great news! You’ve been working hard and deserve all this honorable things going on. And what a dish! Every single word in this caption just sounds so scrumptious…well maybe except the very first one – you know my peculiar relationship with alcohol:) Stunning pictures too! Indeed, just a week back or so I realized I had never baked beans and that would be great to try them. And now, after this awesome recipe I cannot let you down and have got to make them, right? What about incorporating some mangoes or lavender, eh?! Haha, just kidding! Nicely done!
Thanks, Ben! I knew you would have some smart alec comment about the Bourbon, but I PROMISE it makes these beans taste spectacularly delicious! It’s not like drinking bourbon on the rocks! You have never had baked beans before?!?! WHAAAA? OMG, you must change that… immediately. Hopefully with these, but not required… just as long as you try them! Fresh cubed mango on the side would actually probably be delish. Not sure about the lavendar. I think I will leave that one up to you and your gorgeous blog! 😉 Cheers, buddy!
Your shrimp tacos tarts rightly deserved to be featured and the photos were gorgeous! These baked beans need to be featured too. Maybe in a Fourth of July/BBQ/picnic article. I love homemade baked beans and your addition of the Bourbon and candied bacon makes it even more delicious. I have a feeling I’ll be making your version a lot this summer 🙂
Thanks, Karrie! 🙂 Feel free to notify MSN of my baked beans. I won’t stop you.. they make look at you like you are crazy though! Bourbon and candied bacon should be added to everything.. that is going to be my new life’s mission. lol. You can’t have these beans though because of your sugar detox! Maybe this is reason enough to convince you to stop being a cray-cray and eat sugar! Here’s to hoping! Cheers, pretty! xo
You might be my favorite person ever. Because these beans look AAAAAAAAAAmazing. I need them in my life right now.
Congrats on the feature!!! WOOOO!! I bet that gave you a nice little (and by little I mean huge) bump in your traffic!
Wow, Annie! Favorite person, E.V.E.R? dang, I’m honored! (now I also know you are full of it! lol). Thanks for the kind words, and you are right. MSN gave me a good bump in traffic (love!), but no where near like Pinch of Yum numbers! I’m still a little fish! 🙂 Cheers, girlie!
OMG this beans you are right they are the perfect companion for any barbecue, I just love those huge bacon pieces, and they look so creamy and delicious, love love and only love for them.
Thanks, Katalina!! I’m glad you like the big candied bacon pieces! The husband and I were using the strips as a scoop for the beans – that was a seriously delicious decision. Glad you love these beans! Thanks for making me smile!! Cheers to a wonderful day! 🙂
Congrats!!! That is definitely awesome!!
And two … these baked beans. I LOVE using bourbon in baked beans and with the bacon? Um yes please!
Thanks, Ashley! I thought being on MSN was awesome, and it is probably the only time it will ever happen, so I HAD to report about it here! So glad I am not the only one pouring bourbon in my beans, it rocks right!? Cheers to a fab day! 🙂
That’s WONDERFUL news Chey, way to go ! Bask away…. As for these scrumptious beans, I’d scoop them on my picnic plate anyday… or party!
Thanks, Kev! Beans of any kind are always oh so delish at a picnic or party. Especially beans with booze and bacon in ’em! 🙂 Cheers, buddy
I haven’t had baked beans in AGES!!! This looks so good!!
Thanks, Cathleen!
There is so much to love about these baked beans! The harsh bourbon, the sweet sugar, and of course the creme de la creme- candied bacon. I am in love with this recipe!
Thanks, Shelby! You up for hire to start writing my recipe descriptions?? lol You totally nailed it on the head with these beans! 🙂 Cheers, girlie girl!!
This is comfort food at its very very best. I would love to serve this at my next get together!
Congratulations – that’s such a huge achievement. You have a great blog with delicious food so it’s well-deserved.
I grew up loving beans beans the musical fruit, the more you eat the more you toot. I would eat that entire dish and not worry. Those beans look terrific.
Congrats, congrats, congrats!!! You deserve it 🙂 🙂 Oh, and the beans… yes, please!!!!!
That candied bacon looks delightful! I love the addition of DARK brown sugar in this! Great recipe and photographs! BTW, that blue tablecloth in those photos is absolutely gorgeous!
Thank you, Kennedy! I felt like I had to use the dark brown sugar here, baked beans call for molases! The blue linen is from Crate and Barrel.. I believe you can get it online! 🙂 (no i’m not a paid spokesperson for them… though I should be, I spend enough money there!) Cheers, my friend!
Many congratulations to you on winning recipe Cheyanne! You deserve this! I can only imagine the deadly combo of baked beans and bourbon! This is insanely delicious, and I am completely loving this! Thanks for lovely share! 🙂
Thank you, Anu! 🙂 Beans and bourbon are really delicious together… but then again, you add bourbon to anything and it pretty much rocks the house! Cheers, my sweets!
Yay, congrats Cheyanne, that’s so awesome!! 🙂 And so are these baked beans! They look amazing and super flavorful! The bourbon totally takes them up a level to rock the house!
Thank you, Kelly! I totally need (and deserve, right!?) one of your ice cream bars to celebrate! The bourbon absolutely does elevate these beans to the two thumbs up, house rockin’ level! 🙂 Cheers, girlie girl!!
Never in my life have I ever had something like this and sadly I can never have it in my life 🙁 It would be so interesting to try!!!!!
PS: I am sorry to hear some heartbreak took over this past weekend 🙁
Gigi, sorry you won’t be able to try these beans, they do rock the casbah! Is it the bourbon? Thanks for the kind words and stopping by! Cheers, pretty lady! 😉
Great baked beans always steal the show during any meal. These beans look sooooooo good!
Thank you, Mary! You are so right, great baked beans typically end up being one of the most popular dishes at a BBQ (or the potato salad)! These beans are quite delicious, but its hard to go wrong with anything you add candied bacon and bourbon to. Right? Thank you so much for stopping by and the kind comment! Cheers to a beautiful day! 🙂
Congratulations, my friend! The Daily Meal and MSN know what they’re doing!! Now about these beans… I’m happy I don’t need a special occasion to eat them because I want them now. For breakfast. Well, maybe I can wait for lunch…maybe. Gosh, these look good!
Aww, Thank you Annie!! 🙂 You are right, baked beans don’t really require a special occasion… they are totally that humble side dish good for lots of occasions. But maybe not for breakfast 😉 Cheers, pretty lady!
Bourbon really does make everything better. Oh wait, that’s bacon. Two of my favourite things!
Right, Kristen!? I’m all for putting bourbon and bacon in everything! <--tough life that would be. 🙂 Cheers, pretty lady!
Yay for bringing back these yums! Love that you added bourbon, of course, and I know the bacon really kicks these up a notch too! Perfect weekend cookout fare and definitely appropriate for Father’s Day! Hope you have a great weekend my friend! XO
Yay for the magical fruit! Now I have that song stuck in my head! 🙂 Baked beans are one of my favorite side dishes, but i haven’t made them in the LONGEST time! I definitely need to try this recipe, especially since it has bourbon and brown sugar in here. Definitely magic with this dish. And so perfect for Father’s Day, too! Pinning these beauties! Happy weekend, friend!
You know what’s funny? I got onto your webpage and thought “Oh, hasn’t she posted this before? ;)” lol. Well I’m glad to see it again- it looked so amazing the first time!
Dang Girl – this is EPIC news!!! EPIC, I say! I don’t think I was visiting your blog when your photo and recipe for margarita shrimp taco tarts was the Daily Meal recipe winner and YOUR recipe was featured on MSN.com – so freaking cool – AND EPIC!!! I’m so glad your republished this – so glad that I get to share (albeit way, way too late) in your glory! And – it’s so well deserved – then and now!
By the way, am that weird person that doesn’t have a go to recipe for baked beans and these look so fan freaking tastically EPIC! Happy Thursday my friend! xoxo
I’m a little tardy for the party in terms of congratulations, but CONGRATULATIONS! How amazing that your photo was on FREAKING MSN! That’s amazing! And your recipes are amazing and you totally deserve all the recognition. These baked beans look seriously delish; I know I’ll be whipping out this recipe for summer potlucks. Have a great weekend, Chey!
First, congrats (2 years late) on being on MSN! How awesome 🙂 Second, I have a confession. I don’t like baked beans. I know, I know.. you can hit me over the head. I try and try, but they just never do it for me. However, I do have a feeling I’d love your version, Cheyanne! I mean, bacon… and candied bacon?! How could one not love that? I’m glad you republished this, it gives me a kick in the butt to try and find a love for baked beans! I can tell you that my hubs will love these because he’s a huge fan of baked beans… and bacon, of course 😉
Congrats Chey!!! That’s awesome news and I’m happy to hear it! How funny….I shared a baked bean recipe today too…great minds think alike, eh?? Loving these summer recipes!! Cheers friend!
I remember this one too. Oldie but goodie:) I don’t remember the old pictures though, but the updated ones are stunning. I think bourbon, like good wine, makes all things better with aging, even the photos:)
How the heck did I miss these the first time around?! These look absolutely perfect for the 4th of July and just about every summer weekend! Love the bacon, love the bourbon and of course, love the beans! This will be a hit with Tom!!
Baked beans are the perfect recipe for summer. My Mother went through tons of baked bean recipes while I was growing up. she played with savory bean but sweet beans were always my favorite. they had to have some bacon in the mix, but I never thought to use candied bacon, I’m sending this recipe to my Mom asap. I’m sure she will love it.
Your photos are always so mouthwatering Cheyanne! I just love your blog so much! This dish looks delicious, such a beautiful recipe! <3
Congrats on your awesome news, that’s wonderful! And your beans look amazing! All that bacon… and topped with candied bacon?? Oh yes, I’d be requested them again and again too!
These baked beans are outstanding!! And should be on everyones summertime menu. I really had no clue that baked beans could be so much more than the canned variety I’m used to. Can’t go wrong with bourbon, bacon and brown sugar!! Have a great weekend. Take care.
Oh my gaaasshhh I love homemade baked beans. And now I’m craving them hardcore. They are seriously so so so so much better than canned baked beans. LOVE. These look killer.
I know the MSN news is old, but that news is new to me!! So, 2 years later, congrats!! I would be just thrilled, so I can only imagine your excitement. Happy Father’s Day weekend to you!!
Congrats! This is HUGE and I love that you shared this good news with all of us. What is good for you, is great for us as a family of bloggers. And, your recipes are absolutely inspiring. You have such a great range and somehow you make it all look decadent, simple, and delicious. KUDOS!
Congrats on the MSN story!! You SO deserve it…and those tarts look ahhhmazing!!
These beans look heavenly! And absolute must for summer potlucks!!
Boy did you do an amazing job on your new photos! These look killer and I love the addition of the bourbon! I don’t drink it but it truly adds a delicious flavor to food so I love using it in cooking. I need to whip up a batch of these stat!
Could you please give me the link to the original recipe, it was so much better than this one, I know you said it is the same but my family knows its different. I had the original one pinned and when I click on it its gone, just like the other 90% of Pinterest, they tell you to pin things for later and most of the links are dead. Any way if there is no link could you please email the recipe to me.
Hi Pamela,
I tweaked the recipe to make the beans quicker cooking, because most people don’t want to take the time to cook baked beans completely from scratch. But, I totally understand what you mean about the taste! If you take the time to cook the dry beans and incorporate them into the recipe, it really does taste better! We actually just moved, so my office is still in boxes. I’m about to unpack and I’ll look for the original recipe for you!! As soon as I find it I will either add it to this blog post or directly email you. I appreciate you stopping by! And I appreciate that you loved the original recipe and like making the baked beans 100% from scratch! Cheers!! 🙂
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, if you have a cook book let me know I would love to add it to my collectionction.
Hi Pamela,
Thank you so much for the kind words. I don’t have a cookbook… yet? 😉 I wasn’t able to upload the original recipe to my site for some reason, so I emailed it to you instead. Please let me know if you do not receive it! Cheers!