Description
Root beer baked beans bring sweet-smoky Southern charm to summer cookouts with robust flavors that dance between tangy and rich. Hearty beans simmered in zesty root beer sauce promise a memorable side dish perfect for backyard gatherings and hungry friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
Main Beans:
- 2 cans (15 ounces / 425 grams each) navy beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
Liquid and Seasoning 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
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare a robust culinary canvas by heating the oven to a steady 350F (175C), creating the perfect environment for transforming ordinary beans into a tantalizing dish.
- Render the bacon in a spacious oven-safe vessel, allowing the fat to melt and crisp the meat to golden perfection. Extract the crispy morsels, preserving the flavorful drippings as a cooking foundation.
- Introduce diced onions to the aromatic bacon remnants, coaxing them to soften and develop a translucent, caramelized essence that will infuse depth into the final creation.
- Orchestrate a symphony of flavors by folding in beans, root beer, barbecue sauce, ketchup, molasses, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Integrate these ingredients thoroughly, ensuring each component is evenly distributed.
- Reincorporate most of the previously crisped bacon into the mixture, reserving a small garnish to provide a final textural crunch and visual appeal.
- Slide the carefully prepared concoction into the preheated oven, allowing it to transform over 45-60 minutes. Periodically interrupt the cooking process to stir, encouraging the sauce to thicken and the beans to bubble with anticipation.
- Conclude the culinary journey by adorning the finished dish with the remaining bacon fragments, presenting a robust and flavor-packed side that celebrates both sweet and savory notes.
Notes
- Swap bacon for crispy tempeh or coconut bacon to create a vegetarian version that maintains smoky depth and crunchy texture.
- Reduce sugar content by selecting a low-sugar root beer or replacing it with unsweetened cola for diabetic-friendly adaptation.
- Use a cast-iron skillet for even heat distribution and enhanced flavor development during baking process.
- Select navy beans or great northern beans as alternative options for different creamy consistency and nutritional profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg