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Maple Baked Beans with Bacon Recipe Easy Crockpot Version for Beginners

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A comforting and easy crockpot recipe combining sweet maple syrup and smoky bacon with tender navy beans, perfect for busy days and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) dried navy beans
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup (120ml) pure maple syrup
  • ½ cup (120ml) ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups (480ml) water or low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions

  1. Rinse dried navy beans thoroughly and soak overnight (8-12 hours) in cold water covering beans by about 2 inches. For quick soak, boil beans for 5 minutes, then cover and let sit for 1 hour.
  2. Dice bacon into bite-sized pieces. Finely chop onion and mince garlic.
  3. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving rendered fat in the pan.
  4. Add chopped onion to bacon fat and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Drain soaked beans and rinse under cold water. Transfer beans to crockpot.
  6. Add cooked bacon, sautéed onion, and garlic over the beans in the crockpot.
  7. In a bowl, whisk together maple syrup, ketchup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  8. Pour sauce over beans and bacon. Add water or chicken broth. Stir gently to combine.
  9. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until beans are tender and sauce thickened. If sauce is too thin near the end, cook uncovered on high for 30 minutes to reduce.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or additional vinegar if desired before serving.

Notes

Soaking beans overnight improves texture and reduces cooking time. Use real maple syrup for best flavor. Keep crockpot lid closed during cooking to maintain temperature. For thicker sauce, remove lid during last 30 minutes. Bacon fat used to sauté onions and garlic adds flavor. For vegetarian version, substitute bacon with smoked tempeh or liquid smoke.

Nutrition

Keywords: maple baked beans, bacon baked beans, crockpot baked beans, slow cooker beans, easy side dish, comfort food, sweet and smoky beans

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/maple-baked-beans-with-bacon-recipe-easy-crockpot-version-for-beginners/