Cowboy Beans

Total Time: 5 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 5 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 lb dried pinto beans or 1 lb dried navy beans, washed and picked clean of any debris
• 4 slices bacon, chopped fine (about 4 ounces)
• 1 medium onion, chopped fine
• 4 medium garlic cloves, minced (about 4 teaspoons)
• 4 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup strong black coffee
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 2 tablespoons prepared brown mustard (such as gulden's)
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, plus
• 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 soak beans overnight -or- place beans and 6 cups water in large dutch oven. bring to boil over high heat and cook for 5 minutes. remove pot from heat, cover and allow beans to sit for 1 hour. drain beans. clean and dry pot.
• 2 adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 300°f add bacon to pot and cook over medium heat until lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. stir in onion and cook until beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. add brown sugar, mustard, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, hot sauce, and salt. return to boil over high heat, cover pot, and transfer to oven.
• 3 cook until beans are just tender, 2 to 2 1/2 hours. remove lid and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has thickened to syrupy consistency, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. remove from oven, stir in remaining 2 tablespoons barbecue sacue, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• 4 beans can be refrigerated in airtight container for several days.