🍁Smoky Harvest Bean Bake - Cornbread Cracker Topping

This hearty bean bake is loaded with smoky bacon, roasted red bell pepper, tangy BBQ sauce and Dijon mustard, all tucked beneath a golden, crunchy cornbread topping that makes every bite irresistibly savory and comforting. This recipe takes a little bit of time but boy, is it worth it! So tasty! Ingredients Bean Mixture 3 (28 ounce) cans of baked beans, undrained, any brand you prefer. 10 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked crisp and chopped 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced 1 Tbsp butter 1 roasted red bell pepper, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, chopped or minced if you like 3/4 cup smoky bbq sauce of your choice 1/4 cup ketchup 3 Tbsps pure maple syrup 2 Tbsps Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsps apple cider vinegar 1 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp dried thyme or 1 tsp of fresh thyme leaves Cheesy Layer 1 1/2 cups sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded (can be mozzarella) 1/2 cup smoked shredded white cheese (or just mozzarella) Cornbread Crumble Topping 1 1/2 cups crumbled baked cornbread (I just bake a small box of Jiffy) 1/2 cup buttery round crackers, crushed (about 10 crackers) 3 Tbsps butter, melted 2 Tbsps brown sugar 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 2 tsp dried parsley or 2 Tbsps fresh chopped parsley Directions 1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 2. In a skillet or dutch oven pot, melt butter and cook onions over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until they have caramelized well. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. 3. Stir in roasted red bell pepper, barbecue sauce, ketchup, maple syrup, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, smoked paprika, pepper, and thyme. Simmer for 3 minutes. 4. In a large bowl combine baked beans, cooked beef, bacon, and sauce mixture. 5. Spread half into a large greased baking dish. 6. Sprinkle evenly with both cheeses. 7. Top with remaining bean mixture. 8. Mix together cornbread crumbs, crackers, melted butter, brown sugar, smoked paprika, and parsley. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole. 9. Baked uncovered for 45-50 minutes until bubbly and the topping is golden brown. 10. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!