Maple Chipotle Baked Beans from Scratch

Here is another great recipe for you to serve friends on the grill for the Fourth of July, from BBQ Hall of Famer Melissa Cookston. Her star-spangled spread of recipes including sides, entrees, and desserts will make you the grill champion for America’s 243^rd birthday this year!   I will be sharing recipes daily for your celebration!

“Good side items at any BBQ party are mandatory, and with a little work can be the star of the show!  At any outdoor picnic, baked beans are good.  However, maple chipotle baked beans made from scratch are awesome!  Revel in the recipe requests from your friends and family, soak up the adoration from those poor souls still making baked beans from a can.  Yes, you too can win “Battle Baked Bean” (and fool everybody into thinking it was hard work!)”

Maple Chipotle Baked Beans from Scratch

• 1-pound northern beans soaked overnight
• 6 slices of bacon
• 1 tbs minced garlic
• 1 yellow onion diced
• ½ bell pepper green or red, diced
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• 2 cups ketchup
• ½ cup Worcestershire sauce
• ½ maple syrup
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup Tabasco Chipotle Sauce
• 1 tablespoon basic BBQ Rub

Drain soaked beans, then place in stockpot and cover with water to about 1" above beans. Bring to a boil then simmer for 1 hour, adding water if necessary. Drain beans.

Cook Smithfield bacon in a pan until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, leaving rendered fat in pan. Crumble bacon after it cools.

Add onions and bell peppers and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened but not translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, then remove from heat.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large baking dish add beans, onion/pepper/garlic mix from skillet and remaining ingredients. Mix well.

Bake for 1-1/2 hours or until beans are tender and liquids have thickened around beans. Serve!