If you’re short on time, this quick recipe brings you all the rich, smoky flavors you crave without the hours of slow cooking. In just over 30 minutes, you can whip up a batch of these classic baked beans, perfect for your next barbecue or as a hearty side for any occasion.
Prep Time: 21 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8 (serving size: about 1/2 cup)
Ingredients:
- 6 slices of center-cut bacon, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup finely diced onion
- 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- ½ cup of fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
- ⅓ cup of firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of prepared yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon of kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon of smoky paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon of ground red pepper
- 3 (15-ounce) cans of organic navy beans, thoroughly drained
- 1 (8-ounce) can of unsalted tomato sauce
Instructions:
- Begin by preheating your broiler to a high setting.
- In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, take the chopped bacon and cook it over medium-high heat. Keep cooking until it turns delightfully crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon from the skillet and set it aside, but retain the flavorful drippings in the pan.
- Now, add the finely chopped onion and thyme sprigs to the bacon drippings in the pan. Sauté them for about 3 minutes. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
- Stir in the chicken broth, dark brown sugar, prepared mustard, kosher salt, smoked paprika, and ground red pepper. Reduce the heat to medium and let it cook, uncovered, for roughly 10 minutes or until the mixture thickens slightly. Stir occasionally and remember to discard the thyme sprigs.
- Remove the skillet from the heat, and gently fold in the crispy bacon pieces.
- Place the skillet under the broiler for approximately 4 minutes or until the top becomes bubbly, and the edges develop a delightful crust.
Nutrition Facts (per serving):
- Calories: 158
- Fat: 2.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0.8g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 0.6g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g
- Protein: 7.8g
- Carbohydrates: 28.7g
- Fiber: 6.2g
Keep in mind that these nutritional values are approximate and can vary depending on factors like the brands of ingredients used and portion sizes.
Cooking Tips:
- For a smokier flavor, you can opt for smoked bacon or add a bit more smoked paprika.
- Customize your baked beans by adding diced bell peppers or a pinch of cayenne for some extra heat.
- These beans are a fantastic side dish for grilled meats or as a topping for baked potatoes.