Baked beans are an all-time favorite comfort food of many a diner - including myself! I grew up eating baked beans on toast with a fried egg on top as well as them being one of the many sides on a full-blown British breakfast plate!

Although our favorite beans came out of a can, there's something about baked beans that always makes you feel warm and cozy inside. So, after attempting my own homemade baked beans I came to realize how easy and inexpensive they are to make requiring very little hands-on time in the kitchen - who's not loving that!

There are many types of beans you can try in this Zesty Homemade Baked Beans recipe - pinto, white and navy beans - are all great choices. You can opt out with the bacon too to make this vegetarian-friendly or even omit the chilies for a more kid-friendly version if you wish - the choices are entirely yours.

This recipe is great any time of the year, especially alongside those juicy burgers and hot dogs and my version of German potato salad (link below.) Enjoy!



Ingredients

4 cups dried beans (your choice)
Olive oil
4 slices thick cut smoked bacon, chopped
1 small Vidalia onion, chopped
3 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
2 large jalapeno peppers, seeds removed
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 1/2-2 cups ketchup
3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Water

Method

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. if using.

1. First, prepare the dried beans according to the package directions. You can either soak them overnight or use the quick soak method. Rinse and drain the beans after soaking and set aside.

2. Next, in a Dutch oven or large pot, cook the chopped bacon with approximately 1 tablespoon of olive oil until slightly browned - then add the chopped onions, garlic and jalepenos. Stir and cook over a medium heat until the onions become opaque - approximately 5 minutes.

3. Lastly, add the molasses, sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and enough water to cover the ingredients by at least 2 inches stirring together well. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook either on the stove top on a low heat - or in the oven at 300 degrees until the beans are tender - approximately 2-4 hours, stirring occasionally.

NOTE: A little more water can be added during the cooking process if the mixture is becoming too thick. If you desire a thicker texture to your beans, remove the lid during the final stages of cooking.