CRAIG'S SWEET & SPICY CROCKPOT BBQ BEANS

Craig's Sweet & Spicy Crockpot BBQ Beans image

Provided by Papagayita

Categories Beans

Time 4h30m

Yield 1 large casserole, 10-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

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beans
3 cups rinsed mixed dried beans (i usually use cranberry-incredibly creamy, kind of like pintos, navy, kidney)
2 ham or 2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 bay leaf
2 slices bacon, finely diced (or whatever other pork products you have on hand-I've used ham steak, pancetta, etc)
2 garlic cloves, smashed (more to taste)
baked bean sauce
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 pieces bacon, diced (optional, again use whatever you have)
molasses or date syrup, & add more to taste
1/4 cup vinegar (any kind is fine, I've used sugar cane, cider, red)
1/4 cup ketchup (or tomato product-tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, diced fresh, whatever)
1/4 cup water

Steps:

To cook the beans:
1. Put beans, bouillon, pork, garlic and bay leaf in crock pot.
2. Add water to about 1-2 inches over the beans.
3. Cook on high until soft, ~3 hours or overnight (8 hours) on low. Cooking for a longer period (aka overnight) won't hurt them, just make them softer and more creamy.
To make the sauce:.
1. Saute onions, peppers and garlic in a little bit of oil (I use a tsp of bacon fat if I have it) ~10 minutes until softened and brown.
2. Add rest of ingredients, stir, bring to a boil, and simmer on low until mixture has thickened to a syrupy consistency and onions and peppers are very soft.
3. Mix in beans, pour into large pan, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 F for one hour (or longer). Remove foil about 15 minutes before end of cooking time to let top brown.
4. Beans are best if served the next day (I usually make this in the evening and let the beans sit in cooling oven overnight). Will keep for one week or more in fridge, great to freeze and reheat later.
Note: ****My secret ingredient is a can of dr. pepper (diet is fine) added with the rest of the liquid ingredients in the sauce.