4.5 from 81 votes
Slow Cooker Bacon Brown Sugar Baked Beans
This slow cooker baked beans recipe features navy beans simmered with sautéed bacon, onion, green pepper, and garlic in a sweet and tangy sauce made from brown sugar, barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and molasses. The beans become tender over hours of slow cooking while absorbing rich smoky and sweet flavors. The dish is hearty and comforting, ideal as a side for barbecues or potlucks.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
4 hrs 20 mins
Total Time
4 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
6
servings
Calories:
723 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 pound Navy beans
- 1 pound Bacon cut into bite-sized pieces, thick-cut
- 1 onion diced, large
- 1 green pepper diced, large
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup barbecue sauce use gluten-free, if needed
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup molasses
Instructions
- Soak the beans in water (the water should rise a few inches above the beans) overnight.
- Cook the bacon on the sauté setting of the slow cooker, or in a Dutch oven on the stovetop. Remove the bacon and set it aside.
- Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease. Sauté the onion, pepper, and garlic in the grease until soft, about 5-7 minutes. If you cooked them in a Dutch oven, transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker.
- Drain the beans. Add the beans and 3 cups of fresh water to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours, or until the beans are mostly tender.
- Whisk the brown sugar, barbecue sauce, vinegar, mustard, and molasses together in a small bowl. Stir into the beans. Add the bacon to the slow cooker.
- Cook an additional 1-2 hours on high, until the beans are thick and dark.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Ensure barbecue sauce is gluten-free for gluten-free dietary needs, or make homemade sauce.
- Soak beans overnight to reduce cooking time and ensure even tenderness.
- Sauté vegetables in bacon grease to enhance flavor before slow cooking.
- Cook beans until thick and dark for proper doneness and sauce consistency.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
723kcal
(36%)
Carbohydrates
85g
(28%)
Protein
33g
(66%)
Fat
28g
(43%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
17g
(100%)
Cholesterol
75mg
(25%)
Sodium
2047mg
(85%)
Fiber
9g
(36%)
Sugar
58g
(116%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 723
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 723kcal | 36% |
| Carbohydrates | 85g | 28% |
| Protein | 33g | 66% |
| Fat | 28g | 43% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 17g | 100% |
| Cholesterol | 75mg | 25% |
| Sodium | 2047mg | 85% |
| Fiber | 9g | 36% |
| Sugar | 58g | 116% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.