It's not a real barbecue until a dish of baked beans shows up! While there are many different versions and many different techniques, I'm here to tell you that these are the best. These are the tastiest, most satisfying, the easiest, and the meatiest. They not only make a great side dish, but if the budget's a little tight, these will absolutely work as a main course. Sprinkle the top with sliced green onion if you like.
Ingredients
- red beans: 1 pound (dried)
- quarts water: 3 piece
- bay leaf: 1 piece
- ½ pounds boneless pork shoulder: 1 piece (cut into 2-inch cubes, optional)
- yellow onion: 1 piece (chopped)
- barbecue sauce: 1 cup
- ketchup: 0.5 cup
- apple cider vinegar: 0.33333 cup
- packed light brown sugar: 0.25 cup
- molasses: 3 Tbsp
- yellow mustard: 2 Tbsp
- Worcestershire sauce: 1 tsp
- smoked paprika: 1 Tbsp
- cayenne pepper: 0.125 tsp
- black pepper: 1 tsp (freshly ground)
- kosher salt: 1 Tbsp
- garlic powder: 1 tsp
- ½ cups reserved bean cooking liquid: 2 piece
- slices thick-cut bacon: 6 piece
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Gather all ingredients. ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
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Add dry beans to a bowl, cover with water, and let soak for 8 hours, or overnight. ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
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Drain beans and transfer to a large pot filled with 3 quarts of cold, fresh water. Add bay leaf, pork shoulder, and onion. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir. Skim off foam if desired. Let simmer until beans are just tender, about 1 hour. ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
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Reduce heat to medium-low and stir. Skim off foam if desired. Let simmer until beans are just tender, about 1 hour. ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
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While beans simmer, combine barbecue sauce, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, cayenne, black pepper, kosher salt, and garlic powder in a bowl with a whisk. Set aside until needed. ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Transfer tender bean mixture to a deep, 15x10-inch baking dish using a spider strainer. ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
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Pour in barbecue sauce mixture and 2 ½ cups of the bean cooking liquid. Place bacon slices on top. ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
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Bake uncovered in the center of the preheated oven until the liquids have reduced into a thick sauce, 2 to 3 hours. ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
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Enjoy! ALLRECIPES / SONIA BOZZO
