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Smoky Sweet Honey Bourbon Baked Beans: Easy 30-Minute Recipe

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These smoky sweet honey bourbon baked beans are a quick and easy side dish that tastes like it simmered all day. Made with canned beans, bacon, honey, and bourbon, they’re perfect for barbecues, potlucks, or a cozy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cans (15 oz each) navy beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup bourbon
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon (5 minutes): Place your large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until it’s crispy and the fat has rendered, about 5-7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 2 tablespoons of fat in the pan.
  2. Sauté the onion (3 minutes): Add the diced onion to the hot bacon fat. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Build the sauce (2 minutes): Pour in the bourbon and let it sizzle for about 30 seconds, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Then add the honey, ketchup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, chili powder, black pepper, cayenne (if using), and salt. Stir everything together until smooth and bubbling.
  4. Add the beans (2 minutes): Gently fold in the drained and rinsed beans and the cooked bacon pieces. Stir until everything is well coated in that gorgeous sauce.
  5. Simmer (15 minutes): Reduce the heat to low and let the beans simmer gently, uncovered, for about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. The sauce will thicken and reduce.
  6. Adjust and serve (2 minutes): Taste the beans and adjust seasoning if needed. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or chicken broth. If it’s too thin, let it simmer a few more minutes. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or extra bacon bits if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip the bacon fat—it’s where the smoky flavor lives. Watch your heat to avoid burning the sugar in the honey and molasses. Let the bourbon cook off during the simmer for a mellow flavor. Use room temperature ingredients for a smoother sauce. Double the batch if serving a crowd—these beans disappear fast.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, honey bourbon beans, smoky beans, easy baked beans, 30-minute recipe, barbecue side dish

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