Sweet & Sour Baked Beans

1. Cook the Bacon:

• In a skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and crumble it, reserving 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings in the skillet for additional flavor. (You can skip the drippings if you prefer a lighter dish, but they add depth.)

2. Prepare the Onions:

• In the same skillet with the bacon drippings (or without if you choose not to use them), sauté the onion strips over medium heat until they are tender and translucent but not caramelized, about 5-7 minutes.

3. Make the Sauce:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, molasses (or honey), Worcestershire sauce, mustard, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir well.

4. Combine Ingredients:

• Add the navy beans, kidney beans, lima beans, and pinto beans to the sauce. Mix until the beans are well-coated.

• Add the sautéed onions and crumbled bacon to the mixture and stir to combine.

5. Bake:

• Pour the mixture into a baking dish.

• Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30-40 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and thickened to your preference.

6. Serve:

• Let cool slightly before serving.