Baked Beans With a Crunchy Topping

Ingredients

• 4 slices thick-sliced bacon, diced
• 1 cup minced onion

• 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained

• 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
• 2-3 slices rye bread, buttered, pulsed in food processor

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. 2

   Brown bacon in cast iron skillet over medium heat until crisp. A regular large frying pan will work, but you'll need to use an oven-proof pan or transfer to casserole dish.

3. 3

   Drain bacon on a plate covered with paper towel.

4. 4

   Pour off bacon drippings from skillet reserving 1 tablespoon.

5. 5

   Sweat onion in the tablespoon of drippings until soft.

6. 6

   Add remaining ingredients (but not the bread crumbs) along with bacon pieces.

7. 7

   Sprinkle crumbs on top of beans; bake until nice and bubbly. I check after about 20 minutes. I put my beans in a casserole dish in lieu of the skillet.

8. 8

   You may bake the beans in individual serving dishes. Simply top each with crumbs and bake as above.