Smokey Bourbon Baked Beans
Memorial Day is this weekend which means that it’s officially the start of summer. But more than that it means outdoor parties and food on the grill. I love grilling all sorts of things: chicken, steaks, kabobs… But the foods that seem to be most popular this time of year are hot dogs and hamburgers. I know my kids are big fans and let’s face it, there’s nothing easier than throwing a few burgers and dogs on the barbecue. But you can’t just serve hot dogs and hamburgers, right? You need to have a side or two.
While French fries, tater tots, fruit and potato salads are popular choices, nothing goes better with hot dogs than baked beans. I’m not talking about a can of beans, either. Yes, cracking open a can and warming them up on the stove is very easy and there are some good brands out there. But you know what’s better than the can? Homemade.
Now don’t get scared. I know a lot of homemade bean recipes require buying dried beans and soaking them over night and then simmering them on the stove for hours. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have that kind of time. With two energetic boys under the age of 6, I just don’t have all day to hang at home while my beans simmer; and something tells me a lot of you don’t either. But thanks to Melissa’s Steamed Six Bean Medley, you don’t need 24 hours (or more) to make a fantastic side for your grilled entreés.
I’ve talked about Melissa’s awesome line of steamed veggies before. They make cooking so much easier because most of the work is already done for you. Instead of soaking and then cooking, you just cut open a bag and add them to whatever dish you’re making. You can even eat them straight out of the box if you want. While this recipe does require some cooking time it’s only so the beans can soak up all that wonderful smokey flavor that we associate with baked beans. But if you think you’re going to have to stand over the stove, don’t worry, I’ve taken that out of the equation as well. All you’ll need is a slow cooker.
That’s right. No standing over the stove and occasionally stirring for several hours. You simply have to mix up the sauce, throw it and the beans in the slow cooker and then go about your business. You can pick up the kids, get them to their various after school activities or just focus on making the rest of the dinner. Whatever you need to do, you can get it done and still have these delectable beans on the table by the time your guests arrive. And the best news is, you can leave that can opener in the drawer.
Smokey Bourbon Baked Beans
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
- 2 cups hot water
- 1/2 pound bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 packages Melissa’s Steamed Six Bean Medley
Directions:
- Whisk together the molasses, sugar, mustard, bourbon and water in a medium bowl until well combined.
- Line the bottom of your slow cooker with half the bacon. Top with the beans and onion and finally the rest of the bacon.
- Pour the molasses mixture over the beans. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and cook the beans on low for 6 hours, stirring once or twice. Transfer the beans to serving bowl and serve.
