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Smoky Bourbon Baked Beans: The Best Easy Grilled Side

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These Smoky Bourbon Baked Beans are the ultimate easy grilled side dish, combining smoky bacon, sweet molasses, and a splash of bourbon for a rich, caramelized flavor that’s perfect for any cookout.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 28 ounces canned baked beans (preferably Bush’s Original or Van Camp’s)
  • 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced small (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup bourbon
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your grill to medium heat (about 350°F).
  2. Cook the bacon in a 10-inch cast iron skillet on the grill for 5-7 minutes until crispy. Remove bacon and set aside, leaving 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet.
  3. Sauté the diced onion in the bacon fat for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Deglaze the skillet with bourbon, scraping up browned bits. Let it bubble and reduce for about 1 minute.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, smoked paprika, black pepper, and cayenne (if using). Pour into the skillet and stir.
  6. Add the canned beans (drain off about half the liquid) and cooked bacon. Stir to combine.
  7. Close the grill lid and cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens and edges caramelize.
  8. Remove from grill, let rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve hot.

Notes

Don’t skip stirring every 10 minutes to prevent burning. For extra smoky flavor, add soaked wood chips to charcoal grill. Taste the sauce before adding beans to adjust sweetness or heat.

Nutrition

Keywords: smoky bourbon baked beans, grilled baked beans, easy side dish, cookout recipe, summer barbecue

Find it online: https://oracooks.com/smoky-bourbon-baked-beans-the-best-easy-grilled-side/