Baked Beans with Ground Beef

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Baked Beans with Ground Beef is a down home recipe with tender beans, savory ground beef and that classic sweet, smoky sauce we hunger for at picnics and barbecues. It’s sweet, it’s smoky, it’s a bit tangy and puffing with hearty while tasting like something your grandma would dole out at a back yard potluck or a cold weeknight dinner.

This recipe comes from my childhood, dragging me to those sweet summer evenings at my aunt’s house where dinner was always simple, a bit cloying, and made with love. She’d make up a big ol’ pot of baked beans with ground beef, put it on the table with some cornbread, and we’d serve ourselves like it was the best thing we’d eaten all week (it usually was). And now I throw it together anytime I need an easy, comforting, downright cozy meal, it’s a hug in a bowl.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Main Ingredients
Instructions To Make Baked Beens With Ground Beef
Expert Tips:
How To Store
Variations & Substitutions
Frequently Asked Questions
More Delicious Beef Recipes You’ll Love
Recipe
Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Why You'll Love This Recipe

It’s so easy - Simply brown the beef, stir everything together, and allow it to bake—no strange steps or fancy techniques.
Flavor packed - what a flavor bomb sweet, smoky, tangy, savory and just the right amount of heat, all in that one bite. It’s like comfort food in the magic kind of way.
Super versatile dish – Eat is straight up, with cornbread, over rice or even as a chili dog topper—leftovers are a dream.

Main Ingredients

This basic recipe calls for only a few ingredients. Here are the major items you'll need:

Ground Beef – Adds protein and flavor, of course, and also that meaty richness that moves this to the realm of full-on meal from side-dish status.
Homemade baked beans – They’re already saucy and sweet, and we’re just going to give ’em a bit of a glow-up with a few extras.In this recipe i used my own homemade baked beans, but you can definetly use canned ones that you find in grocery stores.
Onion – Adding some savory depth and a touch of sweetness as it caramelizes. A sort of flavor base, if you will.
Garlic – Gives it that warm, punchy flavor that makes everything taste so so much more homemade and then a lil’ extra cozy!
Ketchup – Sweet and tangy! It intensifies the tomato flavor and provides body to the sauce.
Mustard – Adds zip to the sweetness of the dressing. Believe me, it makes up for it.
Brown sugar – Because who has baked beans without sweetness and a touch of molasses-y richness. Total comfort food vibes.
Worcestershire sauce – The not-so-secret recipe enhancer. It’s salty and savory and infuses a little umami magic into the dish.
Butter - You need butter to cook your ground beef and the onions.
Salt.
Black pepper.
Smoked paprika (optional) – For that deep, smoky taste without all the real smoke. Entirely optional, but I swear it makes it that much more fun.
Smoked Chicken bits (optional).

Instructions To Make Baked Beens With Ground Beef

Brown the ground beef in a large pan and drain any extra fat.
Stir in chopped onion and garlic, and cook a couple more minutes until soft.

Mix in your canned beans, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire, and your seasonings. Mix it all up real good.

Put it in a baking dish, uncovered, and in the oven at 350 or 30 minutes.
Let it cool for a few minutes, then scoop and eat!

Expert Tips:

The meat Lean ground beef – It’ll keep things hearty without making the dish oily. You get all the flavor without the extra mess.
Sauté the onions low and slow – Slowly cooking the onions enhances their natural sweetness and goes great with the beans.
The BBQ sauce – Don’t miss it out, it’s really what gives it that smoky, deep flavor that you’d think it had been cooking all day (even though it didn’t).
Rest it before serving – Just 5–10 minutes is a game changer. It gets thick and the flavors get down, real nice.
Double it up for a crowd — This dish is just the thing for a potluck or cookout, and it reheats beautifully, so you don’t have to worry about leftovers.

How To Store

Cool it – Allow the dish to cool to room temperature before storing. If you seal it up while still hot, that steaminess could lead to sogginess or container-sweat (not cute).
Store in the fridge – Once the beans have cooled, add them to air-tight glass containers. Slide it in the refrigerator and you’re good for up to 4 days.
Freeze as needed – Need to save it for longer? Freeze it! Freezer bags or containers If you’re storing meals in a food storage container or ziplock bag, be sure to look for one that can be put in the freezer. If using a bag, press any excess air out of it, label with the date, and freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge if cold or frozen, and heat low and slow on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Variations & Substitutions

Mix it up with other proteins – If you aren’t in a beef mood or want a leaner version, ground turkey, ground chicken or plant-based crumbles all work well.
Add Veggies – Toss in chopped bell peppers, shredded zucchini, corn, or mushrooms for additional nutrients and texture.
Change the beans — If you have black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans kicking around, you can sub in or mix them with the baked beans.
Turn up the heat – Craving something spicier? Stir in hot sauce, red pepper flakes or a chopped jalapeño to kick things up — totally optional, but so fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to bake baked beans with ground beef?

Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes at 350°F (175°C). It gives the sauce some time to thicken and the top gets slightly golden and bubbly. If you like it thicker and frothier, or with a bit more browning on top, you can allow it to cook for an extra minute or two — but don’t let it stray far from the oven while it nears the end of its baking time.

Can I cook baked beans in the slow cooker?

Oh yes you can make baked beans with ground beef in the crockpot! Brown the beef, and sauté the onions for another minute first, and then just dump everything into the slow cooker and let it all cook on low for 4–5 hours or on high for 2–3 hours until it’s heated through and bubbly.

Can you freeze baked beans?

Yes you can freeze baked beans, allow them to cool completely first. Then let cool and layer between wax paper in an airtight container or freezer bag, and they’ll keep for up to 2 months.

If you tried this Baked Beans with Ground Beef or any other recipe on my website, please feel free to leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. And remember to tag me on Instagram!