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Old Fashioned Molasses and Bacon Baked Beans

Old Fashioned Molasses and Bacon Baked Beans

Old Fashioned Molasses and Bacon Baked Beans - this easy recipe has all the flavour of grandma's baked beans. Once they are in the oven, all you need is plenty of patience to let these slow cook to perfection.
Course Side Dish
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 20 minutes
Servings 12 or more servings
Author Barry C. Parsons

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb dry white beans or navy beansInstructions
  • 1 lb sliced smoked bacon cut in small pieces
  • 4 cloves cloves minced garlic
  • 2 large red onions chopped
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup light or fancy molasses
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 4 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • one 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes pureed
  • one 28 ounce can tomato sauce
  • 4 tbsp dijon mustard

Instructions

  1. Begin by soaking in water overnight or up to 48 hours.
  2. In a large skillet slowly fry the bacon. Completely render the fat out of the bacon, leaving it crispy.
  3. Pour off the majority of the fat from the pan. Set the bacon aside.
  4. Return the pan to the stove over medium heat and add the onions and garlic.
  5. Cook until the onions and garlic are softened, then add the water.
  6. Let the water come to the boil to deglaze the pan.
  7. Add to a large covered roaster (Turkey roasting size) along with the crisp bacon, the soaked beans (which have been drained) and add all of the remaining ingredients.
  8. Stir all together well, cover and place in a 325 degree F oven for 4-5 hours or longer, stirring occasionally. The beans should be fully cooked and tender and the sauce should thicken. (see NOTE Regarding cooking time.)
  9. I almost always add a little extra boiling water at a few points during the cooking time if the sauce thickens too quickly before the beans are fully cooked, usually about 1 to 1 1/2 cups at a time. This is not a problem at all and is to be expected.

Recipe Notes

The cooking time seems to vary a great deal depending upon the type of white bean you are using. I have seen some that can take up to 8 hours to fully cook in a slow oven. The best approach is to consider this an all day recipe that you start in the morning for dinner. Baked beans are even better when cooked a day ahead, which is how I mostly cook them.