My recipe for Baked Beans with Ground Beef is the unsung hero of my backyard cookouts and casual weeknight dinners alike. This dish brings together smoky-sweet beans and savory beef in a rich, tangy sauce that tastes like summer in a skillet. My beans are always the first thing to disappear from the family picnic table.
Baked beans are one of my staple cookout sides. My family loves my baked beans in the pressure cooker and my great grandma’s baked beans.
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Why this Baked Beans with Ground Beef Recipe is a Keeper
This classic dish combines the sweet and savory flavors of baked beans with the satisfying richness of ground beef, making it a perfect side for BBQs, potlucks, or a comforting weeknight meal. It’s incredibly versatile and easy to customize to your taste. Everyone loved these baked beans.
- Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: This dish delivers on classic comfort food appeal, making it a guaranteed hit at any gathering, from casual backyard BBQs to holiday potlucks. Great alongside with hamburgers and hot dogs.
- Hearty and Satisfying: The addition of ground beef transforms humble baked beans into a more substantial, protein-packed meal that can stand alone or be a robust side.
- Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: Using pantry staples and readily available ingredients, this recipe punches above its weight in terms of taste with minimal effort.
- Flexible and Forgiving: It’s incredibly difficult to mess up these baked beans! You can easily adjust the sweetness, smokiness, or spice level to suit your family’s preferences.
- Feeds a Crowd Economically: This recipe yields a generous amount, making it a budget-friendly option for feeding large groups without sacrificing flavor or satisfaction.
Can I Make Baked Beans in a Crock Pot?
Yes, absolutely. Making this Hearty Baked Beans with Ground Beef in a slow cooker is a fantastic option, especially if you want to free up oven space or have it ready for a potluck without much last-minute fuss.
Pro Tip for the Best Baked Beans
While it’s tempting to just toss everything into the baking dish, taking a moment to caramelize your onions properly and allow the beef to get a good sear before combining with the beans will dramatically deepen the overall flavor.
Recipe Ingredient Notes to Make this Casserole
I love to use easy but delicious ingredients to my baked beans recipes with ground beef.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Canned Baked Beans: By using the cans of beans you can make this recipe quickly. However it is still delicious.
- Use Lean Ground Beef: The ground beef really makes this casserole dish a meal.
- All Purpose Seasoning: I love this recipe because it has all the seasoning that you need for this easy baked beans recipe.
Variations and Substitutions for this Side Dish Recipe
Here are some of the variations you can make to the canned beans to elevate the flavors.
- Smoked Meats: Instead of ground beef, try cooked pulled pork, chopped smoked sausage, or even diced ham for different flavor profiles.
- Vegetarian Option: Omit the ground beef and bacon. Boost flavor with smoked paprika, liquid smoke, or a dash of maple syrup for a delicious vegetarian version. Add extra veggies like diced green bell peppers or corn.
- Bean Blend: While classic baked beans are ideal, you can create a “three-bean” or “four-bean” salad by adding drained and rinsed kidney beans, cannellini beans, or black beans to the mix You can add them all to bush’s original baked beans. Adjust seasonings as needed.
- Spice Level: Kick up the heat with a pinch of cayenne pepper, a diced jalapeño (seeds removed for less heat), or a dash of your favorite hot sauce.
- Add More Vegetables: Stir in diced green peppers (red bell peppers, green, or yellow), corn kernels, or even a can of drained diced tomatoes for added color, texture, and nutrients.
- Different Sauces: Experiment with different BBQ sauces (smoky, tangy, sweet), spicy brown mustard or add a splash of apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard for a brighter tang to this easy recipe.
How to Make Baked Beans with Ground Beef
This is the best baked beans recipe it is truly enhanced by the cooked beef.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Preheat & Brown: Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a skillet, add the ground beef and onion with 1/2 teaspoon of all-purpose seasoning over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink.
- Drain & Combine: Drain any fat from the beef, then transfer the mixture to a 13×9 baking dish. Add the beans, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of all-purpose seasoning.
- Stir Well: Stir all the ingredients in the baking dish until thoroughly combined.
- Bake in the Oven: Bake uncovered for 1 hour, or until the beans are bubbly and heated through.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Southern Baked Beans Recipe
You can prep many of the ingredients to the bake beans with hamburger. Here is some things you can prep for the the best southern baked beans side dish.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onions: Brown the ground beef and cook the onions up to 2-3 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Mix the Beef Mixture (Unbaked): Combine the cooked ground beef and onions with all the other bean ingredients (except bacon for topping, if using) in your baking dish. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, simply pop it in the oven, extending baking time by 10-15 minutes if baking from cold.
- Cook the Bacon: If adding bacon, cook and crumble it ahead of time. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Easy Baked Beans
It is easy to prepare this traditional southern classic in a different way. You can even cook the ground beef how you would like.
- Stovetop Method: For a quicker version that still delivers great flavor, you can finish the dish entirely on the stovetop in a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) Method: The Instant Pot can significantly reduce cooking time, though it still requires the initial browning of the meat and aromatics.
How to Store and Use Leftover Homemade Baked Beans
- Storing: Transfer the cooled beans to an airtight container. This prevents them from absorbing odors from other foods in the refrigerator and keeps them fresh. Glass or good quality plastic containers with tight-fitting lids work best.
- Reheating: Place the beans in a saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat. Add a tablespoon or two of water or beef broth to help create some steam and prevent sticking. Stir frequently to prevent burning, until the beans are heated through and bubbling gently. This usually takes 10-15 minutes.
- Using Leftovers: Don’t let those delicious baked beans go to waste! Here are some ideas to reinvent them:
- Loaded Baked Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes: Spoon warm beans over baked potatoes or sweet potatoes. Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, and chives for a hearty meal.
- Sloppy Joes/BBQ Sandwiches: Warm the beans and serve on toasted buns for a quick and satisfying “sloppy joe” style sandwich. You can even add extra BBQ sauce for more tang.
- Chili Starter/Booster: Add leftover beans to a fresh pot of chili to deepen the flavor and add texture. If you have a small amount, it’s a great way to “stretch” a pot of chili.
Common Questions About This Great Recipe
Yes, and please do if your crowd can handle the heat! Toss in diced jalapeños, a dash of hot sauce, or even smoked paprika for a deeper kick.
Not at all. Ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat alternatives work great. You can even skip the meat and add extra beans for a vegetarian twist.
Tips for Southern Baked Beans with Ground Beef
- Don’t Skimp on Draining Fat: After browning the ground beef, ensure you drain off most of the excess fat. This prevents the beans from being greasy.
- Taste and Adjust: Always taste the bean mixture before baking. This is your chance to adjust the sweetness, tang, and seasoning to your preference. Remember, flavors will meld and intensify slightly during baking.
- Low and Slow Baking: Baking at 350°F (175°C) allows the flavors to meld beautifully without drying out the beans. Don’t rush the process.
- Consider Your Pan: An oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven allows for easy one-pot preparation. If using a regular baking dish, ensure it’s large enough to prevent overflow as the beans bubble.
- Garnish for Presentation: A sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley, green onions, or chives not only adds a pop of color but also a fresh herbaceous note that complements the richness of the dish.
- Serve this recipe with: Ramen Noodle Coleslaw and my Pub Burgers.
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Hearty Baked Beans with Ground Beef
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Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1 large Onion chopped
- 48 ounce Baked beans, I use 4 cans of Campbell’s pork and beans
- ½ cup Brown sugar
- ½ cup Ketchup
- ⅓ cup Molasses
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons All Purpose Seasoning Blend, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef, onion and 1/2 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink.
- Drain the fat from the beef and transfer to a 13×9 baking dish.
- Add the beans, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, Worcestershire sauce and remaining teaspoon of All Purpose Seasoning to the baking dish. Stir to combine.
- Bake uncovered for 1 hour until it is bubbly.
Christina’s Notes
- Sauté Aromatics First: Cook the onions and garlic until soft and fragrant before adding the beef. This builds a flavorful base and prevents raw onion flavor in the final dish.
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Beans: Combine different beans (like navy, kidney, pinto, or black beans) for texture and visual appeal. Canned beans work great—just rinse and drain them to reduce sodium and canned taste.
- Balance Sweet and Savory: Baked beans shine when there’s a balance of molasses, brown sugar, ketchup (or BBQ sauce), mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar or a bit of hot sauce to cut the sweetness.
- Low and Slow for Best Flavor: If baking, use a low oven (around 325°F) : and bake for at least 1 to 1.5 hours uncovered. This thickens the sauce and allows the flavors to meld.
- Let It Rest: Let the baked beans sit for 10–15 minutes after cooking. This helps the sauce thicken further and improves the overall flavor.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
My family loved this!
I am so glad!