Skip the canned beans and make a big pot of creamy baked beans from scratch with this authentic Southern recipe. These sweet and spicy homemade baked beans start with a bag of dried legumes.
1pounddried pinto beans(or 4 15-ounce cans) not drained
4slicesbacon1/2" dice
1mediumyellow onionminced
½green bell pepperminced
2clovesgarlicminced
1cupbrown sugar
½cupmolasses
½cupketchup
1tablespoonyellow mustard
2teaspoonsdry mustard
2tablespoonsapple cider vinegar
1tablespoonworcestershire sauce
1tablespoonhickory liquid smoke optional
¾teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
¼teaspoonblack pepper
1teaspoonkosher salt
1tablespoonchipotle BBQ rubrecipe on this site
1cupstrong brewed coffee
1cup reserved bean liquid(from cooking the beans)
Instructions
PREPARE THE DRY BEANS:
Sift through the dry beans and remove any debris, pebbles or bad beans. Cover the beans with 2" of fresh water and let soak for 8 hours or overnight.
Drain and rinse the beans. Place them in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot and bring to high pressure. Cook for 7 minutes on high. Set aside and let the pressure reduce naturally.
MAKE THE SAUCE FOR BAKED BEANS
Preheat oven to 375°.
Place a dutch oven or heavy pot on medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel to drain.
Add the green bell pepper, onion and garlic to the dutch oven and cook for 3-5 minutes over medium heat until the vegetables are softened and translucent.
Add the brown sugar, molasses, ketchup, yellow mustard, dry mustard, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, red pepper flakes, black pepper, kosher salt, and BBQ rub. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is fragrant.
Reserve 1 cup of bean liquid.
Drain the beans and add them to the pot with the brown sugar mixture. Pour in the coffee and bean liquid and stir gently to combine. Place the dutch oven, uncovered into the oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove the baked beans and sprinkle with reserved bacon and parsley for color (optional). Serve.