Homemade Baked Beans

 Homemade Baked Beans with Bacon

Ingredients:

6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped

1 medium onion, diced

2 cans (15 oz each) navy beans or great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup ketchup

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional for extra smoky flavor)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup water (or more as needed)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. In a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside. Drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.

3. Add diced onion to the pan and cook until softened and slightly golden, about 5 minutes.Stir in the beans, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire, smoked paprika, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and water. Mix everything really well.

5. Top with the cooked bacon.

6. Bake uncovered for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring halfway through. Add a splash more water if it looks too thick.

7. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving — it’ll thicken up even more as it cools.

Tip:

If you want it extra rich, you can add a tablespoon of butter before baking