Description
Bobby Flay’s baked beans combine smoky bacon, molasses, and brown sugar for a rich, hearty side dish. Guests will savor complex flavors that complement grilled meats and summer barbecues.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon, halved
- 3 cans (28 oz/794 g) pork and beans
- ¾ cup (180 ml) barbecue sauce
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- ½ medium green pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup (60 ml) distilled or cider vinegar
- 2 tsp dry mustard or 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 325°F, positioning the rack in the lower middle section for uniform heat circulation.
- Bacon Rendering: Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until fat is released and bacon becomes slightly crisp, then drain on paper towels.
- Vegetable Sautéing: Using bacon drippings, sauté onions and green peppers until they soften and become translucent, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Mixture Creation: Combine pork and beans, barbecue sauce, dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and whole grain mustard in the skillet, mixing thoroughly to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
- Baking Preparation: Transfer bean mixture to a greased baking dish if skillet is not oven-safe, then strategically arrange partially cooked bacon strips across the top for complete coverage.
- Baking Process: Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours, watching for sauce thickening and bean edges beginning to bubble.
- Resting and Serving: Remove from oven and let the beans rest 5-7 minutes to intensify flavors and achieve optimal sauce consistency, then serve warm as a robust side or main dish.
Notes
- Bacon Selection Matters: Choose thick-cut bacon for richer flavor and better texture, ensuring it renders fat effectively and crisps perfectly during cooking.
- Slow Cooking is Key: Low and slow baking allows flavors to develop deeply, transforming simple ingredients into a rich, complex side dish with intense taste.
- Sauce Consistency Technique: Watch the bean mixture closely during baking to achieve the ideal thick, glossy sauce without drying out or burning the edges.
- Temperature Control Tip: Use a lower oven temperature to prevent scorching and promote gradual caramelization of sugars and even cooking of beans.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg