BBQ Baked Beans

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar, (packed)
• 2 tablespoons creole mustard
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 pound thick-cut bacon, (DIVIDED, 6 pieces cut into 1-inch pieces)
• 1 pound breakfast pork sausage
• 2 onions (chopped)
• 2 (28-ounce) cans baked beans
• 1 (15-ounce) can baked beans
• 3 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, (drained)
• 1 (10-ounce) can RO*TEL original diced tomatoes and green chilies, (drained)

Instructions

1. 1

   Adjust the oven rack to the middle position in the oven cavity. preheat oven to 350ºF (177ºC).

2. 2

   In a large mixing bowl, or a 4-cup glass measuring cup, whisk together BBQ sauce (1/2 cup), ketchup (1/2 cup), water (1/2 cup), brown sugar (2 tablespoons), creole mustard (2 tablespoons), vinegar (2 tablespoons), liquid smoke (1 teaspoon), garlic powder (1 teaspoon), and cajun seasoning (1/2 teaspoon); set aside.

3. 3

   Set 6 slices of bacon aside for topping the beans later. Chopped the remaining bacon. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook the chopped bacon, until crispy. Remove cooked bacon with a slotted spoon to an extra-large mixing bowl. Drain the bacon grease and save for another use or discard.

4. 4

   In the same skillet cook and crumble breakfast sausage (1 pound) into small pieces, over medium-high heat. Cook until fat begins to render from sausage, about 5 minutes (it won't be completely cooked at this point). Add onions and cook until sausage and onions are well browned, about 15 minutes. Remove and discard excess grease.

5. 5

   Transfer cooked sausage/onion mixture to the extra large mixing bowl.

6. 6

   Add baked beans (3 cans), pinto beans (3 cans), RO*TEL (1 can), BBQ sauce, and crispy bacon pieces to the extra-large bowl.

7. 7

   Transfer bean mixture to an extra deep 9X13-inch baking dish (Do Not use a standard 13X19. The volume of the beans is too great for a standard 9X13-inch standard pyrex or ceramic baking dish). You can also use a metal 9X13 dish, or split the beans up in 2 pans. Place the baking dish on the rimmed baking sheet.

8. 8

   Cut the remaining 6 slices of bacon into 1-inch pieces and decoratively arrange pieces in a single layer over top of the beans.

9. 9

   Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until beans are bubbling and bacon is rendered. Let cool for 15 minutes. Serve.