Perfect recipe for potlucks, reunions, etc. I always take the crock pot home empty.
- Carbohydrate 53.4457634537951 g
- Cholesterol 78.1027300625 mg
- Fat 33.448811160149 g
- Fiber 0.468358310959408 g
- Protein 19.7266878906382 g
- Saturated Fat 11.6105696198471 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (266g)
- Sodium 694.591910361257 mg
- Sugar 52.9774051428356 g
- Trans Fat 3.64397705984698 g
- Calories 590 calories
Step-by-step
- Fry up bacon first.
- Add hamburger, garlic, chopped onion and worchestershire sauce to the bacon and cook until hamburger is no longer pink.
- Drain.
- Pour contents into crockpot, then add remaining ingredients.
- Mix together and cook on low all day.
- Amazing.
Ingredient lists show measurements and components, but they rarely reveal how fats render and meld during a long cook. Rendering bacon slowly before introducing the ground beef establishes a base layer of rendered animal fat that coats the beans, protecting their starches from breaking down into mush while carrying the aromatic garlic and onion flavors throughout the pot.
Balancing Richness at the Table
Heavy, sweet, and protein-dense dishes require sharp, acid-driven contrasts to cleanse the palate between bites. Serve these beans alongside sharp vinegar-based coleslaws, bitter green salads dressed in a punchy vinaigrette, or simple roasted green vegetables like broccoli rabe. The high sugar content from the brown sugar, molasses, and maple syrup caramelizes gradually over hours, meaning the dish pairs best with unseasoned, rustic cornbread or plain grilled meats that allow the bold sauce profile to stand out without competing for attention.
Adjusting Yields and Proportions
Scaling this formulation up or down requires managing moisture evaporation rates inside the slow cooker vessel. Halving the batch demands reducing the cooking duration by roughly two hours to prevent the sugars from scorching at the edges, whereas doubling the recipe for large gatherings necessitates a six-quart or larger slow cooker to ensure adequate heat distribution across all four cans of beans.
