5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Beans With Bacon

1. Arrange the bacon in a skillet and place it over medium-low heat. Fry the bacon until it is browned and crisp, stirring and turning frequently. Remove the bacon to paper towels to drain.
2. Pour the beans into the slow cooker and add the bacon.
3. In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard powder, and ketchup or chili sauce. Add the sauce mixture to the beans and stir to blend.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for about 2 hours.

Tips and Variations

• Add about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of diced raw onions to the dish. Or saute the onion in a skillet in about 1 tablespoon of vegetable over medium heat until browned. Add the onions to the beans.
• Add about 1/2 cup of green or red bell pepper to the beans or a combination of both colors.
• Add sausage or ground beef to the beans. To brown the sausage, place a large skillet over medium heat and add about 1/2 pound to 1 pound of sausage or ground beef. Cook the ground meat until it is no longer pink; drain well and then add to the beans.
• Add 1 to 2 cups of diced cooked ham to the beans.
• Slice spicy or mild smoked sausage or hot dogs into 1/2-inch rounds. Add the sausage or hot dogs to the beans and cook as directed.
• Extra Spicy: Add 1 tablespoon of chili powder, a few tablespoons of minced jalapeno peppers, and  1 teaspoon (or more) of crushed red pepper flakes.
• With Pineapple: Add two 8-ounce cans of pineapple tidbits (drained) to the beans along with 1/2 cup of bell peppers and 1 cup of onion. Use barbecue sauce instead of tomato ketchup.