Slow-Cooked Baked Beans with Smoked Bacon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-23 · Updated 2026-04-23

A classic American bean dish with smoky bacon and sweet molasses. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 435 minutes, pairs navy beans, smoked bacon, brown sugar for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 8, 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 lb navy beans
• 4 oz smoked bacon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1 medium onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 lb navy beans and soak overnight in cold water with 1 tsp salt. Drain and transfer to a slow cooker.
2. Step 2: Chop 4 oz smoked bacon into small pieces and cook in a skillet until crisp. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 diced medium onion to the skillet, cooking for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Add cooked bacon with its drippings to the slow cooker, along with 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp molasses, 3 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Stir to combine.
4. Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until beans are tender and sauce has thickened. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid if beans seem dry.