Liquid smoke, condensed smoke from pecan, mesquite, apple or hickory wood chips mechanically turned into a liquid form, adds a distinctive smoky flavor to foods when added to a recipe early on in the cooking process. It is available in most grocery stores and from online food retailers. You can use liquid smoke to transform store-bought baked beans into a hearty, flavorful dish that takes less than 90 minutes to make, but tastes like you slow-cooked it over an open fire all day long.
Step 1
Cook 1/2 lb. of applewood-smoked bacon over medium-high heat in a large pot until evenly cooked through but not crispy. If you allow the bacon to crisp up, the meat will be tough in your finished baked bean dish. You do not need to add any cooking oil to the pan, as the heated bacon will immediately release enough fat in the bottom of the pan to evenly cook the meat.
Step 2
Remove the bacon with tongs or a large slotted spoon. Place on a plate covered with two paper towels to absorb the excess fat from the bacon. Set aside.
Step 3
Add two medium-sized peeled and diced red, white or yellow onions to the bacon drippings and saute for five to 10 minutes, or until translucent. Stir in 1/2 tsp. each of liquid smoke and yellow mustard to the pot and mix thoroughly.
Step 4
Add about ¼ cup of dark or light brown sugar and ¼ cup of molasses to the mixture. The sugar and molasses will add sweetness to the dish. You can also add one small peeled, seeded and diced green apple to the mixture to add sweetness and depth of flavor to your baked bean dish. Alternately, you can also add about ¼ cup of bourbon to the mixture.
Step 5
Pour two 28-oz. cans of prepared baked, ranch-style or cannelloni beans into the pot. Place the bacon back into the pot and stir thoroughly. Cook on low heat, stirring frequently, for 45 minutes to one hour. Serve immediately.
Things You'll Need
- 1/2 lb. of applewood smoked bacon
- Large pot
- Tongs or large slotted spoon
- Plate covered with two paper towels
- 2 medium-sized peeled and diced red, yellow or white onions
- 1/2 tsp. of liquid smoke
- 1/2 tsp. of yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup of dark or light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup of molasses
- 1 small peeled, seed and diced green apple
- 1/4 cup of bourbon
- 2 28-oz. cans of prepared baked beans, ranch-style beans or cannelloni beans
