Shot and a Beer Beans are my variation of the traditional beanhole beans that originated in New England. Traditionally these beans are made in large kettles that are slow cooked in stone lined pits. I make mine in my portable fire pit but I keep it real by using my heavy duty Dutch Oven and I do use real wood to cook them.
Ingredients
- 1 lb of dried Navy Beans (soaked overnight and cooked until tender)
- 1 lb Bacon (1/2 diced)
- 1 Large Onion, finely chopped
- 1 Green Bell Pepper, finely chopped
- 2 cloves of Garlic, minced
- 1/2 C. Molasses
- 1/2 C. Ketchup
- 1/3 C. firmly packed Brown Sugar
- 1/2 C. Dijon Mustard
- 1 Tbs Sriracha (or your favorite Hot Sauce)
- 2 tsp Liquid Smoke
- A Bottle of decent beer
- A shot of Bourbon ( I like Knob Creek)
- The beans need to be soaked in cold water overnight. The next day pour off the water and rinse them. Put them back in a pot and cover them with a few inches of water. Bring them to a boil and then turn down the heat and simmer for 90 minutes. Reserve at least 2 cups of the cooking water.
- Mix all the ingredients (minus the Shot and a beer and the uncut bacon) in a bowl.
- Line the bottom of the Dutch Oven with the strips of bacon.
- Pour all the ingredients into the Dutch Oven. Pour enough of the reserved bean water into the Dutch Oven to cover the mixture by at least 2 inches. Pour in the bottle of Beer and the Shot
- Put the Dutch Oven into the coals of the fire. Leave it alone for at least 2 hours. I shoot for a good but not rolling boil. I take the beans off when they look right. I want them to be thick.
These beans are everything a good baked bean should be, smokey, sweet, and full of character.
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OMG Mike!!! Those look freakin’ awesome. I could live off beans and yours look like a complete dinner. My wife made a simple batch of beans yesterday. Just beans, onion, pork hock and some salt. They had to wait because I made a homemade pizza. Can’t wait to tear into beans this afternoon. Did you fry the 1/2 diced bacon before putting in?
They were good, Pat. I put the bacon in uncooked.
Wow, that looks awesome! I can’t wait to make this once I’m over this head cold.
Btw, have any good recipes for rabbit? I found out that Johns Farms in Nassau County has fresh rabbit for about $3/lb. Looking to try it out one day.
I’ve been looking for a place that sells rabbit, thanks! I don’t have any recipes but I hear you can cook it pretty much like chicken.
In Arizona I cook Jack rabbits like any other meat in a stew mix. Taste graet.
Oh, my! this recipe look OUTSTANDING! Gotta try my new used Dutch Oven (a real one!) with this recipe! Thanks for sharing.
John Rosalia – you eat this and it just might help you get over your head cold! But, if that doesn’t appeal, I hope you’re getting a couple of doses of Emergen C every day; a power-packed powder you can mix with Ginger Ale, lemon water, or, whatever you like. Buy it in your “health foods section” at the Stuff Mart or any drug store. It comes in 3 or 4 citrusy or berry flavors.