As a passionate food enthusiast, I have always been on the lookout for unique and delicious recipes that stand out in both flavor and tradition. One such culinary gem that has captured my heart is the mouth-watering Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans.
This iconic dish not only embodies the essence of comfort food but also pays homage to the rich heritage of Southern cuisine.
What is Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans?
Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans are a delightful medley of flavors and textures that come together to create a savory and satisfying dish. This recipe combines the smoky goodness of bacon, sausage, and brisket with the sweetness of molasses and brown sugar, all simmered in a tangy barbecue sauce.
The result is a hearty and comforting dish that is perfect for any occasion, from family gatherings to backyard barbecues.
Why this recipe works?
The magic of Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans lies in the harmonious blend of ingredients that complement each other perfectly. The smoky notes from the bacon, sausage, and brisket add depth and richness to the dish, while the sweetness from the molasses and brown sugar balances out the flavors.
The barbecue sauce brings a tangy and zesty kick that ties everything together, creating a truly unforgettable culinary experience.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Bacon: Bacon adds rich, smoky flavor and savory depth to the beans. It infuses the dish with its distinctive taste and provides delicious bits of meat throughout.
- Smoked pork sausage: Smoked pork sausage contributes additional smokiness and meatiness to the beans. Its hearty texture and savory flavor enhance the overall richness of the dish.
- Cooked beef brisket: Cooked beef brisket adds tender, juicy bites of beef to the beans. It brings depth of flavor and richness to the dish, complementing the other meats and ingredients.
- Cooked pulled pork: Cooked pulled pork adds succulent, shredded pork to the beans. It provides another layer of flavor and texture, creating a hearty and satisfying dish.
- White onion: White onion adds aromatic flavor and subtle sweetness to the beans. It helps to balance out the richness of the meats and adds depth to the overall flavor profile.
- Red bell pepper: Red bell pepper adds color and sweetness to the beans. It provides a vibrant contrast to the other ingredients and adds a fresh, crisp texture to the dish.
- Jalapeno pepper: Jalapeno pepper adds heat and a hint of spice to the beans. It contributes to the overall flavor profile and adds a zesty kick that balances out the sweetness of the sauce.
- Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans: Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans serve as the base of the dish. They provide a hearty and flavorful foundation for the other ingredients, soaking up the flavors of the meats and sauce.
- Famous Dave’s Rich & Sassy Barbecue Sauce or Hunt’s Original Barbecue Sauce: Barbecue sauce adds sweet, tangy flavor and a rich, smoky aroma to the beans. It coats the beans and meats, creating a luscious and flavorful sauce that ties everything together.
- Mustard: Mustard adds tanginess and depth of flavor to the beans. It enhances the overall taste profile and adds a subtle kick that balances out the sweetness of the sauce.
- Sorghum molasses: Sorghum molasses adds sweetness and depth to the beans. It contributes a rich, caramel-like flavor that enhances the overall richness of the dish.
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds sweetness and caramelization to the beans. It helps to balance out the acidity of the barbecue sauce and enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish.
Step by Step Directions:
Step 1: Preheat the Grill
- Begin by preheating your barbecue grill to high heat. This ensures that it’s ready for cooking the sausage and brisket later on, imparting a delicious smoky flavor to the beans.
Step 2: Cook the Bacon
- In a skillet or on a griddle, cook the bacon until it’s crispy and golden brown. Once cooked, set the bacon aside and reserve 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat for later use.
Step 3: Grill the Sausage and Brisket
- Place the sausage links on the preheated grill and cook them until the surface develops a delicious charred exterior, which typically takes about 20 minutes. This step adds depth of flavor to the beans.
- Around the 15-minute mark of grilling the sausage, add the brisket to the grill to give it a bit of charring as well. This enhances the overall flavor profile of the beans.
Step 4: Saute the Aromatics
- In a large saucepan, heat the reserved bacon fat over medium-low heat. Add the minced white onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper to the saucepan. Saute the vegetables for about 5 minutes or until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
Step 5: Prepare the Meat and Beans
- Dice the cooked bacon, sausage, brisket, and pulled pork into bite-sized pieces. Add them to the saucepan with the sauteed aromatics.
- Increase the heat to medium and cook the meat mixture for 2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Pour in the cans of Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans (including the liquid) into the saucepan, followed by the barbecue sauce, mustard, sorghum molasses, and brown sugar. Stir everything together until well combined.
Step 6: Simmer and Serve
- Bring the bean mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to intensify and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Once the beans are heated through and the flavors have melded beautifully, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Serve the baked beans hot, alongside your favorite barbecue dishes or as a delicious standalone meal.
Tips:
To enhance your cooking experience and elevate the flavors of Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans, consider the following tips:
– For added smokiness, consider using hickory-smoked bacon and sausage.
– Adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or fewer jalapeno peppers.
– Let the beans sit for a while after baking to allow the flavors to meld together.
– Customize the dish by adding your favorite ingredients such as shredded cheese or diced tomatoes.
– Double the recipe and freeze leftovers for a quick and delicious meal later on.
How to store leftovers?
If you have any leftovers of Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to maintain the desired consistency.
Nutrition Information:
A serving of Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans typically contains:
– Calories: 350
– Fat: 12g
– Carbohydrates: 45g
– Protein: 16g
– Fiber: 4g
How would I recommend serving Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans?
To truly savor the rich flavors of Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans, I recommend serving it in the following ways:
– As a Main Dish: Enjoy a generous serving of the beans alongside a fresh salad or cornbread for a satisfying meal.
– As a Side Dish: Pair the beans with grilled chicken or ribs for a classic barbecue feast.
– In a Bread Bowl: Hollow out a loaf of crusty bread and fill it with the beans for a unique and hearty meal.
– With a Dollop of Sour Cream and Chives: Add a creamy touch to the beans by topping them with sour cream and chopped chives for a burst of freshness.
What alternatives can you use for the ingredients if not available?
In case you’re missing some ingredients for Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans, here are some alternatives you can consider:
– Bacon: Substitute with pancetta or smoked turkey bacon.
– Smoked Sausage: Replace with kielbasa or andouille sausage.
– Beef Brisket: Use beef chuck or stew meat as a substitute.
– Pulled Pork: Opt for shredded rotisserie chicken or jackfruit for a vegetarian alternative.
Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans Recipe
Equipment
- Barbecue grill
- Skillet or griddle
- saucepan
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Spatula or tongs
Ingredients
- 4 ounces beef brisket cooked
- 2 28- ounce cans Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans
- 8 ounces smoked pork sausage
- 1 3/4 cups Famous Dave’s Rich & Sassy Barbecue Sauce
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper minced
- 4 ounces cooked pulled pork
- 1 1/2 cup white onion minced
- 6 slices bacon
- 2 tablespoons jalapeno pepper minced
- 2 tablespoons sorgum molasses
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 Tbsp mustard
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your barbecue grill to high heat. This ensures that it’s ready for cooking the sausage and brisket later on, imparting a delicious smoky flavor to the beans.
- In a skillet or on a griddle, cook the bacon until it’s crispy and golden brown. Once cooked, set the bacon aside and reserve 3 tablespoons of the bacon fat for later use.
- Place the sausage links on the preheated grill and cook them until the surface develops a delicious charred exterior, which typically takes about 20 minutes. This step adds depth of flavor to the beans.
- Around the 15-minute mark of grilling the sausage, add the brisket to the grill to give it a bit of charring as well. This enhances the overall flavor profile of the beans.
- In a large saucepan, heat the reserved bacon fat over medium-low heat. Add the minced white onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper to the saucepan. Saute the vegetables for about 5 minutes or until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
- Dice the cooked bacon, sausage, brisket, and pulled pork into bite-sized pieces. Add them to the saucepan with the sauteed aromatics.
- Increase the heat to medium and cook the meat mixture for 2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Pour in the cans of Bush’s Best Original Baked Beans (including the liquid) into the saucepan, followed by the barbecue sauce, mustard, sorghum molasses, and brown sugar. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Bring the bean mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to intensify and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Once the beans are heated through and the flavors have melded beautifully, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Serve the baked beans hot, alongside your favorite barbecue dishes or as a delicious standalone meal.
Notes
- For added smokiness, consider using hickory-smoked bacon and sausage.
- Adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or fewer jalapeno peppers.
- Let the beans sit for a while after baking to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Customize the dish by adding your favorite ingredients such as shredded cheese or diced tomatoes.
- Double the recipe and freeze leftovers for a quick and delicious meal later on.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. Can I make Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dish in advance and refrigerate it before baking. When ready to serve, simply bake as instructed.
Q2. Can I freeze Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans?
Absolutely! Portion the beans into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Q3. Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, you can omit the meat ingredients and increase the amount of vegetables for a vegetarian version of the dish.
Q4. How can I make the beans less sweet?
To reduce the sweetness of the dish, cut back on the amount of brown sugar or molasses used in the recipe.
Q5. Can I add extra vegetables to the beans?
Feel free to customize the dish by adding your favorite vegetables such as diced tomatoes, corn, or bell peppers.
Q6. Is it necessary to use Famous Dave’s barbecue sauce?
While Famous Dave’s barbecue sauce adds a unique flavor to the dish, you can substitute it with your favorite brand or make your own homemade barbecue sauce.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans is a delightful culinary adventure that combines the best of Southern flavors in one comforting dish. With a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and tangy elements, this recipe is sure to become a favorite at any gathering.
Whether enjoyed as a main dish or a side, these beans offer a taste of tradition and warmth that is bound to please any palate. So next time you’re in the mood for a heartwarming meal, give Famous Dave’s Baked Wilbur Beans a try and savor the rich flavors that this dish has to offer.