Description
Root beer baked beans showcase classic American comfort cuisine with a sweet and tangy twist. Rich molasses and smoky bacon elevate this hearty side dish you’ll want to serve at summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups dried navy beans
- 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth, or water (plus extra if needed)
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked to a crisp and chopped
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (around 3/4 cup)
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Flavor Enhancers and Seasonings:
- 1 cup quality root beer
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Meticulously rinse and sort navy beans, then submerge them in water, ensuring liquid covers beans by 3 inches. Allow beans to soak overnight or use quick-soak method: boil, then rest for 1 hour before draining.
- Transfer soaked beans to large oven-safe pot with broth, simmer uncovered for 1 hour until partially tender.
- Crisp bacon in separate skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Remove bacon, reserving rendered fat.
- Sauté chopped onions, bell peppers, and garlic in bacon drippings until vegetables caramelize and soften, approximately 5 minutes.
- Whisk root beer, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, maple syrup, molasses, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and chili powder into harmonious sauce mixture.
- Heat oven to 350°F, positioning rack in middle position.
- Fold simmered beans, sautéed vegetables, crumbled bacon, and prepared sauce together in pot, ensuring thorough incorporation.
- Cover pot, bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, reduce temperature to 300°F, and continue baking for 1 hour.
- Further reduce oven to 250°F, re-cover, and slow-cook for additional 2 hours until beans reach desired tenderness. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, adding liquid if mixture appears dry.
- Serve piping hot, showcasing rich, complex flavor profile.
Notes
- Soak beans thoroughly to ensure even cooking and softer texture, reducing potential digestive discomfort.
- Experiment with different root beer brands to find the most complementary flavor profile for your baked beans.
- For vegetarian adaptation, replace bacon with smoked paprika or liquid smoke to maintain depth of flavor without meat.
- Control bean moisture by checking liquid levels during slow baking, adding water or broth if mixture becomes too dry.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg