Savory Bacon-Infused Baked Beans: A Delicious Twist

Ingredients

• 6 slices of crispy bacon, or as much as your heart desires,
• A generous portion of a fresh, large onion, finely chopped,
• A handful of garlic cloves, or more for that added kick, finely diced,
• A pound of savory ground beef to bring richness,
• Two cans of savory pork and beans, each 15 ounces in size,
• A can of tender light red kidney beans, 16 ounces of goodness,
• A can of creamy butter beans, also 16 ounces of comfort,
• A cup of tangy ketchup for a hint of sweetness,
• Half a cup of rich brown sugar for depth of flavor,
• A spoonful of Worcestershire sauce for that savory touch,
• A dash of liquid smoke to elevate the dish with a hint of smokiness.

Step 1

Start by sizzling bacon in a spacious skillet until it crisps up beautifully, which should take around 10 to 12 minutes, remember to turn it occasionally for even cooking. Once done, let the bacon slices rest on paper towels to absorb excess grease, while you reserve the flavorful bacon grease in the skillet. Once the bacon cools down a bit, crumble it with your hands for a delightful touch.

Step 2

In the same skillet, toss in diced onions and let them cook in the bacon-infused goodness over medium heat until they turn soft and golden, which usually takes about 5 minutes. Introduce minced garlic to the mix and let it perfume the air with its aroma for an additional minute. Now, transfer this fragrant onion medley, along with the bacon grease, into a waiting slow cooker to set the stage for the next act.

Step 3

Next up, it's time to brown and crumble the ground beef in the same skillet over medium-high heat, typically requiring 5 to 7 minutes for that perfect texture. Once the beef is cooked through, add it to the waiting slow cooker filled with the savory onion mixture.

Step 4

To enrich the flavors, introduce a medley of pork and beans, kidney beans, butter beans, a splash of ketchup, a hint of brown sugar, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of liquid smoke to the slow cooker. Let these ingredients mingle and meld their flavors on Low heat for the next 4 hours, allowing the magic to happen.

Step 5

When it's time to serve, ladle this hearty concoction into bowls and sprinkle the top with the beloved crumbled bacon for that final flourish.