Transform canned beans into a savory side dish using this recipe from “The Side Dish Bible: 1001 Perfect Recipes for Every Vegetable, Rice, Grain and Bean Dish You’ll Ever Need” (America’s Test Kitchen; $35). The beans get flavor from thick-cut bacon, bratwurst and common pantry items. Don’t let the large quantities deter you. This dish makes great leftovers, or you can just cut the recipe in half and serve it as a side dish for your Father’s Day or July 4 barbecue.
Backyard Barbecue Beans
Serves 12 to 16
Ingredients
½ cup barbecue sauce
½ cup ketchup
½ cup water
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1¼ pound bratwurst, casings removed
2 onions, chopped
2 (28-ounce) cans baked beans
2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, drained
2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained
1 (10-ounce) can Ro-Tel Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, drained
6 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
Directions
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk barbecue sauce, ketchup, water, mustard, vinegar, liquid smoke, granulated garlic and cayenne together in a large bowl. Set aside.
Cook bratwurst in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up into small pieces with spoon, until fat begins to render, about 5 minutes. Stir in onions and cook until sausage and onions are well browned, about 15 minutes.
Transfer bratwurst mixture to the bowl with the sauce. Stir in baked beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans and tomatoes. Transfer bean mixture to 13 by 9-inch pan and place pan on rimmed baking sheet. Arrange bacon pieces in a single layer over the top of the beans.
Bake until beans are bubbling and bacon is rendered, about 1½ hours. Let cool for 15 minutes. Serve. (Do ahead tip: The dish can be wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. Just increase the baking time to 1¾ hours.)
— From America’s Test Kitchen’s “The Side Dish Bible: 1001 Perfect Recipes for Every Vegetable, Rice, Grain and Bean Dish You’ll Ever Need” (America’s Test Kitchen; $35)
