This Baked Beans with Ground Beef recipe is something I’ve been making for years, and it’s always a hit. It’s perfect for a summer cookout, a potluck, or even just a cozy weeknight dinner.
What I love about this dish is how the sweetness of the beans plays with the savory, hearty ground beef. It’s a really satisfying combination. And, it’s surprisingly easy to throw together!
Recipe Overview: Baked Beans and Ground Beef
This dish is essentially a casserole that combines canned baked beans, browned ground beef, and a few other flavorful ingredients.
It’s sweet, savory, and a little bit smoky, thanks to the addition of ingredients like brown sugar and sometimes even liquid smoke.
It’s a classic comfort food, and it is so good.
You can serve it as a main dish with some cornbread or as a side dish alongside burgers, hot dogs, or grilled chicken.
It’s pretty versatile! It really feels like a complete meal because of the protein from the ground beef.
Detailed Ingredients for Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Ground Beef: 1 pound. I usually use lean ground beef (like 80/20 or 90/10), but you can use whatever you prefer. Just be sure to drain off any excess grease after browning.
- Baked Beans: Two 28-ounce cans. You can use your favorite brand. I tend to go for the original or homestyle varieties.
- Onion: 1 medium, chopped. Yellow or white onion works best.
- Brown Sugar: 1/2 cup, packed. This adds sweetness and helps create a nice, thick sauce. You can use light or dark brown sugar.
- Ketchup: 1/4 cup. This adds a bit of tanginess and helps balance the sweetness.
- Mustard: 1 tablespoon. I like to use yellow mustard, but Dijon mustard would also work.
- Worcestershire Sauce: 1 teaspoon. This adds a nice depth of flavor.
- Optional: Liquid Smoke A few drops, optional, can enhance the dish’s smoky dimension.
If you don’t have brown sugar, you could use maple syrup or molasses as a substitute, but you might need to adjust the amount.
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Best Baked Beans and Ground Beef
1. Preheat and Prep: First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a 9×13 inch baking dish. You don’t need to grease it.
2. Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Break it up with a spoon or spatula as it cooks. Once it’s fully browned and no longer pink, drain off any excess grease.
3. Sauté the Onion: Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the ground beef. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent.
4. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the browned beef and onion mixture, baked beans, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. If you are using liquid smoke, now is the time to put a few drops.
5. Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the bean and beef mixture into your prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
6. Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the beans are bubbly and heated through. The sauce should have thickened slightly.
7. Cool and Serve: Let the baked beans cool for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the sauce to thicken up even more.
Variations & Tips for this Ground Beef Baked Beans Recipe
- Add Bacon: For extra flavor, you can add cooked, crumbled bacon to the mixture before baking. About 1/2 cup should do the trick.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce for a kick.
- Make Ahead: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you’re starting with a cold casserole.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or reheat the entire casserole in a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated through.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream.
Key Details
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 50 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Servings: 8-10
- Equipment you’ll need: Large skillet, 9×13 inch baking dish, large bowl.
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- Two 28-ounce cans Baked Beans
- 1 medium Onion chopped
- 1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- Optional: Liquid Smoke A few drops
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the ground beef. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is softened.
- In a large bowl, combine the browned beef and onion mixture, baked beans, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well. Add liquid smoke if using.
- Pour the bean and beef mixture into your prepared baking dish. Spread evenly.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly and heated through.
- Let the baked beans cool for a few minutes before serving.