Quebec-Style Maple Baked Beans with Smoked Bacon
Slow-cooked navy beans simmered in a sweet maple and molasses sauce with smoked bacon, a comforting dish reflecting Quebec’s regional flavors. This canadian-inspired slow cooker ready in about 165 minutes pairs (soaked overnight) navy beans, smoked bacon, chopped, maple syrup for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (soaked overnight) navy beans
- 6 oz smoked bacon, chopped
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp molasses
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F. Drain 1 cup navy beans soaked overnight and place in a large oven-safe pot with 3 cups water, bring to a boil on stovetop, then simmer for 45 minutes.
- Step 2: In a skillet over medium heat, cook 6 oz chopped smoked bacon until crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and sauté 1 diced medium yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves in the bacon fat until translucent and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
- Step 3: Add cooked bacon, sautéed onion and garlic, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 tbsp molasses, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the beans. Stir well, cover, and bake in the oven for 2 hours until beans are tender and sauce thickens, stirring halfway through.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Quebec-Style Maple Baked Beans with Smoked Bacon take to make?
Total time is about 165 minutes (15 min prep + 150 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Quebec-Style Maple Baked Beans with Smoked Bacon?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep (soaked overnight) navy beans from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Quebec-Style Maple Baked Beans with Smoked Bacon?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Quebec-Style Maple Baked Beans with Smoked Bacon for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Quebec-Style Maple Baked Beans with Smoked Bacon?
Canadian slow cooker like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
