Normally I am just fine grabbing a couple of cans of Bushes Baked beans and serving them.  They taste good.  What??

This time I decided I wanted to try my hand at making some baked beans.  I was on kind of a kick of making everything from scratch for that BBQ a few weeks back.  I saw this recipe on Our Best Bites (great food blog – subscribe to it…really), and decided to make them.  I made a few changes, so my take on it is below.

Recipe:

1 Can Great Northern beans
1 Can navy beans
2 Cans butter beans
1 Can pinto beans
1 Can Chili Beans
2 Cans stewed tomatoes
2 Cans Rotel
1/3 c. molasses
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3 Tbsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. Kosher salt
4 rashers of bacon
1 medium onion, thinly sliced

Cook the bacon in a skillet. While it’s cooking, place all beans in a colander and rinse and drain. Transfer to a crockpot insert.

Pulse the tomatoes in a blender or food processor about 5-6 times or until they are breaking down but not smooth. Pour over beans. Add molasses, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper.

When the bacon has cooked, remove bacon from the pan and cook the onions in the bacon drippings, stirring frequently. While the onions are cooking, crumble the cooked bacon over the beans. Add onions and combine all the ingredients well.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2 hours.  The longer you cook it, the better the flavors will meld together. 

This pretty much filled up my round crockpot, so it is good for a big group of people.  The Rotel (tomatoes and chilis) gave it nice little spicy kick.