Bacon Bourbon Beans for Slow Cooker

Bacon Bourbon Beans for Slow Cooker

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. dry navy beans
• 10 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into pieces
• 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 cups water
• 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup loosely packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 Tbsp. molasses
• 3/4 cup bourbon
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. ground mustard
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

1. The night before, add beans to a large pot and cover with water. Drain the next morning.
2. Bring beans to a boil in a large pot of water, let simmer for 30 to 40 minutes and then drain.
3. While beans are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add bacon. Cook until crispy and fat is rendered, and then remove bacon with a slotted spoon and let drain on a paper towel.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and add onion, cooking for 8 to 10 minutes, until caramelly and soft. Add in garlic, cook for 30 seconds, and then turn off heat.
5. Add water, bourbon, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, ketchup, ground mustard, vinegar, molasses and Worcestershire sauce to the crockpot and whisk well to combine.
6. Add in beans, onions (and all of the bacon fat) and bacon to the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours, stirring occasionally.
7. After 10 to 12 hours, turn crockpot to “warm” setting or turn off completely and let sit anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, which will help the sauce for the beans thicken even more.