Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Yield: 10 servings
Total Time: 7hr 10m or 4hr 10m
Some links on this website are affiliate links, including Pampered Chef links from consultant Jennifer ♡my mum♡. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, helping to support this site and its content. I love all of the products I link!
♡ Thank you for your support ♡
Ingredients
- 454g (~1 lb.) ground sausage
- 7 slices bacon, thick cut, diced, bacon drippings reserved
- 210g (~1½ cups) yellow onion, diced
- 126g (~¾ cup) green bell pepper, diced
- 126g (~¾ cup) orange bell pepper, diced
- 18g (~6 cloves) garlic, finely chopped
- 454g (~2 ½ cups) Dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 439g (~2 ⅓ cups) Cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 454g (~2 ½ cups) Pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 448g (~2 ⅓ cups) Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 250mL (~1 cup) Merlot
- 250mL (~1 cup) ketchup
- 250mL (~1 cup) barbecue sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue)
- 160g (~¾ cup) brown sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp ponzu
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Instructions
Prepare the bacon
Step 1: Prepare bacon your preferred way. (I baked my bacon at 425°F)
Step 2: Cook to desired doneness. (If baking, watch carefully as it can quickly burn toward the end)
Move bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Strain and reserve bacon drippings.
Prepare the baked beans
Step 1: Gather all the remaining ingredients (salt and pepper are not pictured). Then, either spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray or line it with a slow cooker liner to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Peel and dice the onion.
Step 3: Dice the green bell pepper.
Step 4: Dice the orange bell pepper. Set aside.
Step 5: Peel and finely chop the garlic. Set aside.
Step 6: Dice the bacon then add to the slow cooker.
Step 7: Drain and rinse the beans. Add the beans to the slow cooker along with the smoked paprika, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, ponzu, balsamic vinegar, barbecue sauce, and ketchup.
Step 8: Sprinkle the brown sugar on top of the beans.
Step 9: Stir to combine all ingredients then measure the wine and set it aside.
Step 10: Heat a large skillet over medium heat for 4 mins.
Step 11: Add the sausage and cook while breaking up until mostly cooked through and browned. About 6 mins.
Transfer the ground sausage to a paper towel lined plate. Wipe out the pan.
Step 12: Add 2 tbsp reserved bacon drippings to the skillet along with the onions and bell peppers.
Step 13: Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned. About 8 mins.
Step 14: Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant. About 1-2 mins.
Step 15: Add the wine.
Step 16: Cook until mostly evaporated, about 4 mins.
Step 17: Add the skillet contents along with the drained sausage to the slow cooker.
Step 18: Stir to combine.
Step 19: Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hrs or HIGH for 3 hrs (stirring halfway through).