Slow Cooker Beans With Bacon

Is it just me or is everyone here ready for fall?

Sue and I live in a small town in the interior of British Columbia and, once again, our summer has been fraught with smoke from forest fires. I get quite anxious now when summer rolls around because twice we have been placed on evacuation alert due to nearby forest fires. When we get near the end of August and September is nearing, I start to feel relief knowing that cooler weather is on its way. And with cooler weather comes comfort foods!

These slow cooker beans turned out pretty tasty, if I do say so myself, and require like zeeero cooking skills and/or energy. Served with a slice or two of garlic toast, it's the perfect warm-up meal. 

P.S. - It also works as a perfect summer meal because you don't need to turn on your oven and heat up the house!

Slow Cooker Beans With Bacon

Ingredients

1 lb navy beans (also called "small white beans")

1 lb bacon, diced

1 large onion, diced

1 green pepper, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups water

1/4 cup strong brewed coffee

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup BBQ sauce

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup prepared mustard

1/4 cup molasses

salt & pepper

Directions

Soak beans in water overnight. 

In a frying pan over medium high heat, cook bacon until it is starting to get crispy. Add in the onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook until onions are wilted - about 5 minutes. 

Place in crock pot on high heat. Drain the beans and add them to the crock pot as well. Stir in 2 cups of water and 1/4 cup coffee. 

Cook, covered/on high, in the crock pot for 4 hours. 

Stir together the brown sugar, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, mustard, molasses, and salt & pepper. 

Pour over the beans in the slow cooker and stir until well combined. 

Cover and continue to cook on high until beans are tender - another 2 or more hours. Liquid should start to thicken and darken. Cook until desired consistency is reached. (FYI - if the beans are getting too dry then stir in a little boiling water. It should be boiling so as not to lower the temperature of the beans.)

Serve hot.

Of course, garlic toast is a must....

Total time on high in the slow cooker is about 6 or so hours. It's going to depend on how your slow cooker cooks. Check every so often by giving them a stir. Don't check too often though because you don't want to lose the heat in the pot!

Also, the BBQ sauce is what lends a lot of flavor to the beans so be sure to use your favorite. You don't want to use something too sweet though, a smoky or bourbon type flavor is really nice!

[We also did a Baked Beans in the oven recipe a while ago - check that one out HERE.)