Root Beer Baked Beans

Ingredients:

• 3 bacon slices
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 16-ounce cans pork and beans
• ½ cup root beer (not diet)
• ¼ cup smoky barbecue sauce
• ⅛ teaspoon hot sauce

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon and drain it on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons of drippings in the skillet. Crumble the cooked bacon.
3. Sauté the diced onion in the hot bacon drippings in the skillet over high heat for about 5 minutes or until tender.
4. Stir together the sautéed onion, crumbled bacon, pork and beans, root beer, barbecue sauce, and hot sauce in a lightly greased 1-quart baking dish.
5. Bake the beans, uncovered, for 55 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and the flavors are melded together.
6. Serve these flavorful Root Beer Baked Beans as a delicious side dish alongside your favorite grilled meats or as a hearty addition to any meal.
   Prep Time: 15 min
   Cooking Time: 55 min
   Total Time: 1 hr 10 min
   Servings: 8