Description
Root beer baked beans bring zesty Southern comfort to your summer cookout, infusing classic legumes with sweet carbonated magic. Smoky bacon and caramelized onions mingle with tangy root beer, creating a side dish that delights barbecue enthusiasts and promises memorable flavor in every spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
Beans:
- 2 cans (15 ounces / 425 grams) navy beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Liquid and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 cup root beer (not diet)
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the bacon by dicing and rendering its fat in a spacious oven-compatible skillet over medium heat until achieving a golden crisp texture. Transfer the crispy pieces to a separate plate, preserving the rendered drippings.
- Sauté the chopped onion in the bacon drippings, allowing it to become translucent and tender, releasing its aromatic sweetness.
- Incorporate the beans, root beer, barbecue sauce, ketchup, molasses, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper into the skillet. Thoroughly blend these ingredients to create a rich, complex flavor profile.
- Fold most of the cooked bacon back into the bean mixture, reserving a small portion for a final garnish that will add a delightful crunch.
- Position the skillet in a preheated oven set to 350F (175C), allowing the beans to slow-cook and develop deep, caramelized flavors. Periodically stir the mixture to ensure even cooking and prevent scorching.
- After 45-60 minutes, verify the beans have transformed into a thick, bubbling concoction with a glossy, reduced sauce that clings beautifully to each bean.
- Remove from the oven and embellish with the remaining crisp bacon pieces, presenting a dish that balances sweet, smoky, and tangy notes.
Notes
- Swap traditional bacon for plant-based alternatives to create a vegetarian version that still maintains rich, smoky flavors.
- Reduce sugar content by selecting a low-sugar root beer and barbecue sauce for a more balanced, health-conscious dish.
- Customize heat levels by adding chipotle powder or hot sauce to create a spicier bean experience that tingles taste buds.
- Use gluten-free barbecue sauce and ensure other ingredients are certified gluten-free to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg