Brown sugar is a staple for many tasty baked bean recipes- it’s earthy and sweet, perfect for the rustic flavor of this popular BBQ side. But that extra sugar isn’t the best option for everyone. If you’re cutting the sugar from your life, here’s a no-sugar baked bean recipe that still provides plenty of flavor, including a nice level of heat.
Liquid stevia subs in for the sweetness, while a little liquid smoke and chipotle powder bring the fire and an earthy smoke to the side. This is a slow cooker recipe, so plan ahead. You’ll need time to both soak the beans (8 hours) and slowly cook the heck out of these ingredients (another 8) to get a nice smoky flavor through and through.
Like this recipe? You’ll love these too:
- Cabbage Salsa: Another delicious BBQ side – also a perfect option to fries for burgers.
- Smoky Chipotle Potato Salad: Chipotle stars again – providing plenty of earthy fire to this recipe.
- Texas Caviar: A mishmash of beans and vegetables creates a perfect Tex-Mex mix.
Our most popular spice pack! Mild, earthy, and sweet ancho pepper. Smoky and earthy medium-heat chipotle. And extra-hot, fruity habanero.
Spicy No-Sugar Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound dried navy beans
- 1 can tomato sauce 15 ounce can
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 2/3 teaspoon liquid stevia
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Prep the beans
- Soak the navy beans in 1 cup of water for 8 hours (overnight works well).
- Make the baked beans (slow cooker)
Set the slow cooker to low
- Add all ingredients, except the salt and pepper, to the slow cooker. Stir well.
- Cover the beans and allow them to cook for 8 to 10 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off heat and add salt, pepper, and extra chipotle powder to taste.
- Serve immediately.