Baked Beans

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 325°F and wait until the indicator light or beep tells you it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

Lay the bacon slices flat on a cutting board and chop crosswise into pieces the size of peas, about 1/4 inch wide.

Step 3

Cut the onion lengthwise from root to tip into two halves, then place flat-side down and slice lengthwise into thin strips about 1/4 inch wide.

Step 4

Place the chopped bacon in a medium-sized heavy pot and cook over medium heat, stirring once every 30 seconds, until the edges look crispy and browned, about 8 minutes.

Step 5

Add the sliced onion to the bacon and stir with a wooden spoon until the onion softens and turns translucent (you can see through the thin pieces), about 5 minutes.

Step 6

Pour in the brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, and mustard powder, then stir with a wooden spoon until everything is evenly mixed throughout.

Step 7

Add the drained beans to the pot and stir with a wooden spoon until the beans are completely coated with the sauce, about 2 minutes.

Step 8

Transfer the pot to the preheated 325°F oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the sauce thickens and looks glossy.

Step 9

Remove the pot from the oven using an oven mitt on both hands and place it on a heat-safe surface to cool for 5 minutes before serving.