In a deep oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven, cook bacon until crisp. Remove and drain on a paper towel, leaving the oil in the skillet.
Add onion to skillet and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook one minute. Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and mustard. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
Chop bacon into pieces, then add to pot along with beans, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika or liquid smoke. Cover and simmer 5 minutes, then remove lid and simmer for 5 more minutes. If consistency is too thick, add water to desired consistency.
Beans can be served at this point, or kept warm on the barbecue grill or in the oven until ready for serving.
Notes
If you prefer a smoky flavor to the beans, add the smoked paprika, which will also give it some peppery zest. If you prefer just the smokiness without the pepper, add the liquid smoke.If you prefer a slightly more tomato taste, add the tablespoon of tomato paste. It is easy to do when you buy tomato paste in a squeezable tube, which can be kept in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight glass or plastic container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.Reheat on the stovetop, adding water to thin the consistency if necessary.