Baked Beans with Ground Beef

This Hearty Baked Beans with Ground Beef recipe is the perfect southern-style baked beans dish that's loaded with hamburger and bacon.

Easy Baked Beans with Ground Beef

These hearty Baked Beans with Ground Beef are baked beans on steroids—a hearty side dish that's rich with bacon and ground beef. Sweet, smokey, saucy, and savory all with a variety of beans.

Move over boring baked beans! This perfect side dish makes hot dogs look gourmet.

You know when you go to family gatherings and taste a perfect dish that’s so good you know you have to have this great recipe to add to your rotation? So...you walk around feeling like a stalker, asking... "Who made the ____?"

This is one of those dishes.

Actually, I remember the first time I tried them; a brother-in-law brought them to a family party.

FYI--This favorite recipe has outlasted the marriage. That means something, huh?

Since that time, I’ve taken these beans to countless events and shared the recipe many times. And, I'm glad that brother-in-law and I are no longer in the same family.

That way I always get the glory of bringing this favorite to the party.

And... bring the beans, I do! The kids request them at every party and consider it one of our family's signature dishes.

Ingredients

To create the best baked beans you just need a few simple ingredients:

• Lean Ground Beef -You can use ground turkey, ground pork, etc, if preferred
• Crispy Bacon-Any thick-cut bacon works.
• Yellow Onion-I used yellow, but white would be just fine.
• Dark Brown Sugar-Light or dark
• Sugar-adds sweet flavor
• Ketchup-contributes to the sweet, tangy sauce
• Tangy BBQ Sauce-Use KC Masterpiece or something similar
• Yellow mustard-plain old hot dog mustard brings a good tangy balance to the sweet
• Black Pepper & Salt
• Chili Powder
• Canned Beans-You can't have good Cowboy Beans without several cans of beans. Our recipe uses pork & beans, black beans, and great northern beans.

How to Make the Best Baked Beans

First, cook diced bacon in a large skillet over medium-high until lightly browned and lightly crispy. I love using my iron skillet for cooking meats. This gets the deep color and flavor I'm always looking after.

Caring for cast iron can be intimidating for some, but don't let it scare you. Easy clean-up is reason enough to use it!

Remove bacon and drain fat from skillet. I like to save dishes so, I put the bacon directly into the 2 ½-quart baking dish I'll be baking in.

Next, add the ground beef and onion to skillet. I suggest you avoid stirring the ground beef until it turns slightly crispy and brown.

I find most people are addicted to stirring. Don't be that kind of cook. Let the meat crisp up a little before disturbing it.

Cook until ground beef is no longer pink and it is starting to crisp up just a little bit. Remove excess grease.

Add ground beef/onion mixture to 2 ½ -quart casserole dish with the bacon.

Add all remaining ingredients and stir well.

Then, cover and bake in your preheated oven at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until bubbly.

Pro Tips

Cooking the bacon separately from the ground beef gives each meat a chance to achieve its individual textures.

I like to leave my ground beef a little chunky in this recipe. I suggest you don’t smash it up when cooking it. Allow it to clump together in nickel to quarter sized pieces.

And don't stir it too much! See... this is my skillet with ground beef that I'm NOT stirring, yet.

The can of pork and beans are NOT drained in this recipe. The tomato base adds to the sauce.

Substitutions and Variations

The original recipe calls for canned butter beans, but I can’t find them in stores here now.

Kidney beans and navy beans also work in this recipe. You would need to drain and rinse both of these types of beans as well.

Add some chopped green bell pepper if you like that flavor.

FAQ

Can I make Baked Beans with Ground Beef in the Crock Pot?

Making these in the slow cooker is one of my favorite ways. Cook the bacon, ground beef and onions in a skillet first. Then put it all in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours. They will be ready when you return home.

How Do I Store Baked Beans with Ground Beef?

If there are any leftovers... Cover the Baked Beans with Ground Beef and store in an airtight container the fridge for 3-4 days.

How Do I Dice an Onion?

Cooking can be so much fun, but sometimes it's the little things that give us trouble. Like cutting up food - seriously, it can be a real pain! Take this recipe, for example, it's calling for diced onions! Can't we just fast forward to the delicious part?

Something Else to Try

If you're looking for another ground beef recipe for your dinner table, consider trying--

Quick Korean Bulgogi--another great ground meat dish that comes together in minutes. Sure to be a family favorite.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta--Another Hamburger Helper improved.

Homemade Hamburger Stroganoff--A family favorite that comes together in a flash.

What to Serve Alongside Baked Beans with Ground Beef?

Baked Beans with Ground Beef are a delicious side dish for your next potluck, summer BBQ, picnic, holiday gathering, and any weeknight meal.

I like them with any grilled meat or sandwich.

This classic side dish makes every main dish you serve with it taste even better. Try with grilled pork chops, Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin, Sous Vide Whole Chicken, or Sous Vide Pork Roast.

For a big crowd and summer cookouts, Pork Butt in Roaster Oven served as a pulled pork sandwich is cost-effective and tasty.

Did You Try this Recipe?

Lastly, if you made Baked Beans with Ground Beef following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a rating!

I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.

And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag me on Instagram! Seeing your photos is my favorite thing!

Food Safety

• Wash hands before cooking
• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended