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Cozy Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe with Brown Sugar Easy Crowd Pleaser

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A cozy, slow-cooked baked beans recipe sweetened with brown sugar, perfect for feeding a crowd with minimal fuss and maximum flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cans (15 oz each) navy beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup (100 g) packed brown sugar
  • 6 slices bacon, chopped (optional for vegetarian version)
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons mustard (Dijon or yellow)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt to taste (start with ½ teaspoon)
  • Optional: pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce for heat

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse the canned beans thoroughly to reduce sodium and any canning liquid flavor. Dice the onion, mince garlic, and chop bacon into small pieces.
  2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pan.
  3. Add the diced onion to the bacon fat and sauté until translucent and soft, about 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the beans, cooked bacon, sautéed onion and garlic, brown sugar, tomato sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, and salt to the crockpot. Stir gently to combine evenly.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours if short on time.
  6. About 30 minutes before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or vinegar if needed.
  7. If the sauce is too thin, cook uncovered on high for 15-20 minutes to reduce the liquid.
  8. Serve warm, ideally in a large rustic bowl.

Notes

For vegetarian version, omit bacon and Worcestershire sauce, add smoked paprika and liquid smoke. Rinsing canned beans reduces sodium and removes metallic taste. Sautéing onion and garlic in bacon fat adds smoky depth. If sauce is too thin, reduce by cooking uncovered on high. Can prepare the night before by assembling in crockpot and refrigerating overnight, then add an hour to cooking time.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, crockpot baked beans, slow cooker beans, brown sugar baked beans, easy crowd pleaser, comfort food, potluck recipe

Find it online: https://emmaoven.com/cozy-crockpot-baked-beans-recipe-with-brown-sugar-easy-crowd-pleaser/