My name isn’t Jack and I don’t have a bean stalk…but I do have some Magical Beans

Now that the weather is finally nice in Chicago, we’ve been grilling out on the deck a lot lately and one of my favorite summer side dishes is Baked Beans.  Sure, I’ll eat the kind straight out of the can…as long as it doesn’t have any of that mysterious meat disguised as “bacon” in it…but I prefer jazzing them up a bit and giving them that Southern-style Barbecue Baked Bean flair.  And something about these beans is pretty friggin magical…people LOVE them!  I was shocked, as I know they’re tasty, but it’s kinda strange when you invite people over for dinner and they RAVE about the beans?!  I mean, beans are great and all, but you would have thought I bought magic beans from the Fairy Godmother down the street for this recipe.  I’m almost embarrassed because it’s such an easy, nothing to it kinda recipe made with a bunch of canned beans…yet I’m 2 for 2 this summer on people just losing their minds over these beans!  It goes to show you that you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen on some fancy schmancy ooo lala dish, when all it takes is the right recipe and a couple cans of magical beans. 

 

 

Barbecue Baked Beans

• 6 slices bacon
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans
• 1 (16 ounce) can great Northern beans, drained
• 2 (16 ounce) cans baked beans
• 1 (16 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup 100% pure maple syrup…no bottles of Aunt Jemima here! 
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

 

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of drippings, chop into small pieces and set aside in a large bowl.
2. Cook the onion and garlic in the reserved drippings until onion is tender; drain excess grease and transfer to the bowl with the bacon.
3. To the bacon (only use about 3/4 of the bacon bits…save the rest for the top) and onions, add pinto beans, northern beans, baked beans, and kidney beans. Stir in ketchup, maple syrup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and black pepper. Mix well and transfer to a 9×12 inch casserole dish.  Top with remaining chopped bacon bits.
4. Cover and bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.
5. Take in all the multiple compliments you receive on your magical beans and don’t dare tell your guests how easy it was to throw together.