Tailgating time! Fall flavor favorites of maple and apple blend with great northern beans to create a unique, crowd-pleasing baked bean dish. Tart Granny Smith apples -- chopped with the skin still on for more fiber and nutrients -- balance the sweet barbecue sauce and maple syrup. Applewood smoked bacon gets the MVP award for this big-batch side dish. Remember the winning strategy for better health: Rinse and drain those canned beans and slash the sodium up to 45 percent. Touchdown!
Makes 15 servings (2/3 cup each)
Ingredients
5 15-ounce cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 1/4 cups chopped Granny Smith apple, unpeeled (2 very large apples)
1 1/2 cups chopped sweet onion
1 12-ounce package thick-sliced applewood smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup real maple syrup
2 cups hickory-smoked barbecue sauce
3 tablespoons stone-ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon ancho chile pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. Coat a 9- by 13-inch glass baking dish with vegetable spray.
2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Transfer to a baking dish.
3. Bake for 45 minutes or until heated throughout. Stir once during cooking.
Nutrition information (per serving)
292 calories
13 g protein
54 g carbohydrates
3 g fat (1 g saturated)
8 mg cholesterol
440 mg sodium
622 mg potassium
94 mg calcium
2.7 mg iron
211 IU vitamin A
4 mg vitamin C
8 g fiber