This delicious twist on a classic side dish combines the rich flavors of root beer and hickory-smoked barbecue sauce for a mouthwatering result that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients:
- 3 strips of bacon
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cans (16 ounces each) of pork and beans
- ½ cup of root beer (avoid using diet)
- ¼ cup of hickory-smoked barbecue sauce
- ½ teaspoon of dry mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon of hot sauce
Instructions:
- Start by crisping up the bacon. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until it becomes nice and crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain it on paper towels but save about 2 tablespoons of the flavorful bacon drippings in the skillet. Crumble the crispy bacon into small pieces.
- In the same skillet with the reserved bacon drippings, sauté the finely diced onion over high heat for approximately 5 minutes or until the onion turns tender and slightly translucent.
- In a mixing bowl, blend together the sautéed onions, crumbled bacon, pork and beans, root beer, hickory-smoked barbecue sauce, dry mustard, and just a hint of hot sauce. Stir the mixture thoroughly to ensure that all the flavors meld together beautifully.
- Transfer the bean mixture into a lightly greased 1-quart baking dish.
- Bake it, uncovered, in a preheated oven set to 400°F (200°C) for around 55 minutes. This will allow the sauce to thicken to perfection while the flavors harmonize.
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):
- Calories: Approximately 280
- Protein: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Dietary Fiber: 7g
- Sugars: 12g
- Fat: 12g
Keep in mind that these nutritional values are approximate and can fluctuate depending on factors like the brands of ingredients used and portion sizes.
Cooking Tips:
- For added smokiness, consider using hickory-smoked bacon.
- Adjust the hot sauce according to your preferred level of spiciness. Feel free to personalize the dish with extra barbecue sauce if desired.