The Finest Baked Beans in a Slow Cooker (Dad's Secret)

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package dried navy beans
• 4 cups water, or more as needed
• ½ cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon dry mustard
• ¼ pound salt pork, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, sliced

Step 1

Soak the navy beans in a large bowl, covering them with a few inches of cool water. Let them sit for at least 8 hours or overnight. Once they’ve soaked, drain and transfer the beans to a pot. Add enough fresh water to cover them, then bring it to a boil. Lower the heat, cover the pot, and let the beans simmer gently for about an hour, until they’re just starting to get tender.

Step 2

While the beans cook, whisk together the molasses, brown sugar, salt, mustard, pepper, and 4 cups of water in a separate bowl until everything is well combined.

Step 3

Toss the partially cooked beans, salt pork, and chopped onion into your slow cooker. Pour the molasses mixture over the top, and add a bit more water if needed so the beans are just covered. Give it a good stir to mix everything together.

Step 4

Set your slow cooker to low and let it do its magic for 8 to 10 hours. By the end, you’ll have rich, flavorful baked beans that taste like a family secret!