SLOW-SIMMERED KIDNEY BEANS

Slow-Simmered Kidney Beans image

My husband always puts us down for a side dish when we're invited to a potluck. Canned beans cut down on prep time, yet you get plenty of zip from bacon, apple, red pepper and onion. I like simmering this mixture in the slow cooker because it blends the flavors and I don't have to stand over the stove. -Sheila Vail, Long Beach, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 6h15m

Yield 16 servings (3/4 cup each).

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

6 bacon strips, diced
1/2 pound smoked Polish sausage or kielbasa, sliced
4 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
2 medium sweet red peppers, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup molasses
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground mustard
2 medium unpeeled red apples, cubed

Steps:

In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels. Add sausage to drippings; cook and stir for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside., In a 6-qt. slow cooker, combine the beans, tomatoes, red peppers, onion, ketchup, brown sugar, honey, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, salt and mustard. Stir in the bacon and sausage. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Stir in apples. Cover and cook 2 hours longer or until bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 216 calories, Fat 9g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 15mg cholesterol, Sodium 664mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (21g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 5g protein.