Description
Maple bourbon baked beans bring smoky-sweet comfort straight from my kitchen to your table. These slow-simmered beans pack rich flavor that’ll make your next barbecue or family dinner something special.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 28-oz can baked beans
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 small onion
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
Seasoning:
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grab a wide, shallow baking dish that allows maximum surface area for perfect caramelization.
- Crisp 4 bacon slices in a skillet, reserving some of the rendered fat, then crumble the bacon into small pieces.
- Pour the entire 28 oz can of baked beans into the baking dish, ensuring beans are the primary ingredient.
- Add ¼ cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons bourbon, 2 tablespoons ketchup, and 1 tablespoon mustard to the beans.
- Dice 1 small onion and mix it into the bean mixture along with half of the crumbled bacon.
- Stir all ingredients thoroughly until everything is evenly distributed.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste, remembering the flavors will concentrate during baking.
- Sprinkle the remaining bacon pieces across the top of the beans.
- Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, checking at 40 minutes for golden caramelization and bubbling edges.
- Remove from the oven and let the beans rest for 5 minutes to stabilize temperature and allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- Choose thick-cut bacon for deeper flavor and extra crispy texture in your beans.
- Select a wide, shallow baking dish to help the beans caramelize evenly and create a delicious crispy top layer.
- Adjust bourbon quantity based on personal taste preference, using less for a milder flavor or more for a bolder bourbon profile.
- For a vegetarian version, replace bacon with smoked paprika and liquid smoke to maintain a rich, smoky undertone.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg