MODIFIED UKBB (UNITED KINGDOM BAKED BEANS) aka British Baked Beans from the BARBECUE SIDES cook book that I adapted to our taste.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Additional Time 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours 30 minutes
2 cups dried great northern or navy beans, rinsed
1 tablespoon butter
6 slices bacon, diced
1/2 cup FINELY diced onion
½ cup QUALITY tomato ketchup
4 tablespoons QUALITY tomato paste
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
FRESH ground black pepper, to taste
2-3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 cups + 1 tablespoon homemade chicken stock
1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- To a large bowl add the beans, cover with water, more than double the amount and soak at room temperature for 8 hours or overnight.
- After 8 hours drain, discard the liquid and rinse the beans.
- Add the beans to a large oven proof skillet.
- Cover the beans about 2 inches above the beans with water and bring to a SLOW boil.
- Simmer for 1 hour uncovered, stirring often so they don’t stick to the bottom. The cooking time will depend on the beans, so check them often for tenderness.
- Drain beans WELL.
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- To the same skillet add the bacon, cooking crisp. With a slotted spoon remove bacon pieces to drain on paper toweling. Reserve only 1 tablespoon of grease in pan and add butter.
- Whisk together the ketchup and tomato paste. Taste the for sweetness, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar so the sauce is not too sweet. Add sugar and molasses, stirring to blend well. Add the mixture to the skillet.
- Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, vinegar and stock, whisking to combine until well blended.
- In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of stock with the cornstarch and mix until dissolved before stirring into the sauce.
- Fold the cooked beans into sauce and stir well.
- Transfer to the oven.
- Bake uncovered 25-30 minutes until thickened.
SLOW COOKER METHOD:
- After soaking and rinsing the beans, turn your slow cooker on low.
- Add drained beans to slow cooker.
- Sprinkle bacon pieces and onions over the beans.
- Whisk together the remaining ingredients EXCEPT THE SALT, as this can cause the beans to take longer to cook.
- Cover and cook for 6 to 8 hours. But start checking them at 6 hours for tenderness, then stir in the salt.
Note: DO NOT USE CANNED BEANS FOR SLOW COOKER METHOD. THEY WILL TURN OUT MUSHY.