Looking to level up your side dish game? These Whiskey Beans with Pepper Bacon and Smoked Sausage are not your average baked beans. Loaded with crispy bacon, smoky andouille sausage, and a bold whiskey-kissed sauce, this dish is the ultimate comfort food with a Southern twist. It’s sweet, savory, tangy, and just a little bit boozy—the kind of dish that turns heads and wins hearts.

Absolutely! Here’s a rich and flavorful blog post in the same style as your previous ones, tailored for the Whiskey Beans with Pepper Bacon and Smoked Sausage recipe—perfect for hearty meals, cookouts, or game-day gatherings.

Perfect for backyard barbecues, potlucks, or hearty weeknight dinners, these beans are rich, satisfying, and layered with deep flavor. Whether you serve them as a side or a main event, one thing’s for sure: no one leaves the table hungry.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Whiskey Beans bring serious flavor to any occasion. Here’s why they’re a guaranteed hit:

Smoky & Savory: The combination of pepper bacon and smoked sausage adds bold, meaty depth.

Bourbon Kick: A splash of whiskey infuses the sauce with warmth and complexity.

Sweet & Tangy Sauce: Ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, and apple cider vinegar balance perfectly.

Perfect for Gatherings: Big enough to feed a crowd and impressive enough to steal the spotlight.

Easy & Make-Ahead Friendly: Just sauté, mix, and bake—let the oven do the rest.

Prep & Cooking Time

This recipe is straightforward but packed with flavor thanks to the low-and-slow bake.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 60–75 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make a hearty batch:

2 (15 oz) cans navy, cannellini, or great northern beans – drained and rinsed
6–8 slices pepper bacon, chopped
1 link andouille sausage (8–12 oz), sliced or chunked
1 large onion, chopped
1 bell pepper (any color), chopped
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup ketchup
¼–½ cup packed light brown sugar (adjust to taste)
1–2 tablespoons molasses
1–2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
¼–½ cup whiskey (to taste)
½ cup chicken or beef broth (or water)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon chili powder
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet, cook the pepper bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave about 2–3 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan for flavor.

3. Sauté the Vegetables: Add chopped onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté over medium heat for 5–7 minutes, until softened. Stir in garlic, smoked paprika, and chili powder, and cook 1 minute more until fragrant.

4. Brown the Sausage: While the veggies cook, grill or pan-fry the andouille sausage until browned. Set aside.

5. Mix It All Together: In a large bowl, combine the drained beans, crispy bacon, sautéed vegetables, and cooked sausage.

6. Make the Sauce: Add the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, whiskey, and broth. Mix well until everything is thoroughly coated in the sauce.

7. Bake: Transfer to a 2-quart baking dish and bake uncovered for 60–75 minutes, until bubbling and thickened.

8. Rest & Serve: Let the beans rest a few minutes before serving warm—so the sauce can settle and thicken just right.

How to Serve

These beans are the ultimate side—or main—depending on the occasion. Here are a few tasty pairings:

With Grilled Meats: Serve alongside ribs, steak, or burgers at your next BBQ.
With Cornbread: Sweet cornbread or biscuits soak up the smoky sauce beautifully.
With a Cold Beer: The whiskey notes pair beautifully with a dark ale or lager.
Balance with Greens: Add a crisp slaw or garden salad on the side.

Tips & Variations

Crank Up the Heat: Add jalapeños or extra chili powder for a spicy version.
Make it Thicker: For a stew-like consistency, mash some of the beans before baking.
Whiskey-Free Option: Just skip the whiskey for a family-friendly version—it’ll still taste great.
Add Cheese: Stir in shredded cheddar before baking for a cheesy, indulgent twist.

Final Thoughts

These Whiskey Beans with Pepper Bacon and Smoked Sausage are rich, rustic, and full of flavor. Whether you’re feeding a hungry crowd or looking for something hearty and satisfying for dinner, this recipe delivers every time. It’s smoky, saucy, sweet, and just a little bit wild—just like the best comfort food should be.

Cook it once, and you’ll be coming back to it again and again.

Beans with Pepper Bacon and Smoked Sausage Whiskey – A Bold, Smoky Side That Eats Like a Meal

Author: Shirley
Total Time: 0 hours

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Description

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet, cook the pepper bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave about 2–3 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan for flavor.
Sauté the Vegetables: Add chopped onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté over medium heat for 5–7 minutes, until softened. Stir in garlic, smoked paprika, and chili powder, and cook 1 minute more until fragrant.
Brown the Sausage: While the veggies cook, grill or pan-fry the andouille sausage until browned. Set aside.
Mix It All Together: In a large bowl, combine the drained beans, crispy bacon, sautéed vegetables, and cooked sausage.
Make the Sauce: Add the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, whiskey, and broth. Mix well until everything is thoroughly coated in the sauce.
Bake: Transfer to a 2-quart baking dish and bake uncovered for 60–75 minutes, until bubbling and thickened.
Rest & Serve: Let the beans rest a few minutes before serving warm—so the sauce can settle and thicken just right.

Prep Time: 20–25 minutes
Cook Time: 60–75 minutes

Nutrition

Serving Size: 6–8 servings
Calories: 450–500 kcal
Fat: 20–25 g
Carbohydrates: 35–45 g
Protein: 20–25 g