Description
Root Beer Baked Beans celebrate an American classic with a carbonated twist. Smoky bacon, sweet root beer, and molasses create a hearty side dish that delights barbecue enthusiasts and comfort food fans.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
- 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g) navy beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup root beer (not diet)
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsps molasses
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat: Position oven rack to 350F (175C), establishing the ideal thermal environment for bean transformation.
- Bacon Preparation: Crisp bacon in a large oven-safe skillet, extracting meat pieces while retaining the rich drippings. Finely chop bacon, setting aside most for later incorporation.
- Flavor Foundation: Sauté onions in bacon fat until translucent and slightly caramelized, developing a deep aromatic base for the dish.
- Ingredient Fusion: Combine beans, root beer, barbecue sauce, ketchup, molasses, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to create a harmonious flavor profile, mixing most of the chopped bacon into the mixture.
- Baking Process: Transfer skillet to preheated oven, allowing beans to simmer and reduce for 45-60 minutes. Intermittently stir to prevent sticking and promote sauce thickening, ensuring even cooking and flavor development.
- Finishing Touch: Remove from oven and garnish with remaining bacon fragments, presenting a glossy, richly flavored side dish that balances sweet and smoky elements.
Notes
- Bacon Texture Tip: Crisp bacon beforehand to add a crunchy contrast and enhance overall flavor profile, ensuring maximum texture variation in each bite.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Monitor bean mixture during baking, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and achieve perfect thick, glossy sauce without drying out.
- Root Beer Selection: Choose high-quality, full-bodied root beer with robust flavor to elevate the dish’s sweetness and create deeper caramelization during cooking.
- Vegetarian Adaptation: Swap bacon with smoked paprika and liquid smoke to maintain smoky undertones, using vegetarian bacon bits or mushrooms for textural replacement.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg