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Apple Butter Bourbon Baked Beans

Sweet and smoky baked beans enhanced with apple butter, bourbon, bacon, and warm spices, perfect for fall meals or BBQs.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Comfort
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups navy beans cooked or canned, drained
  • 1 cup apple butter
  • 0.25 cup bourbon
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 0.25 cup maple syrup
  • 1 onion medium, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper optional
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth low sodium

Equipment

  • Baking dish
  • Skillet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
  2. If using dry beans, soak overnight and boil until tender; if canned, drain and rinse.
  3. Sauté onions and garlic until translucent; add bacon, smoked paprika, cayenne, and black pepper.
  4. Whisk apple butter, bourbon, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and water/broth.
  5. Combine beans and sautéed aromatics with sauce; transfer to baking dish.
  6. Cover with foil and bake 45–60 min, stirring halfway; remove foil last 10 min for thick top.
  7. Cool slightly, garnish with parsley or bacon, and serve.

Notes

Can be made a day ahead; flavors deepen after refrigerating overnight.