America’s favorite pastime is back, and there’s no better way to kick off tailgating season than with this baked beans with ground beef recipe. These Southern-style cowboy baked beans are rich, deeply flavored, and surprisingly addictive. They also taste even better the next day.
We enjoy this dish year-round, so don’t feel limited to making it only in summer. It’s a hearty side that’s perfect for potlucks, barbecues, and holiday tables. Serve it with warm rolls or hot dog buns for soaking up every last bit of sauce.
Reasons Why We Love This Baked Beans with Ground Beef Recipe
This casserole combines familiar ingredients into a fuss-free, crowd-pleasing dish. Here are a few reasons it stands out:
- One-pot convenience: Minimal prep and one vessel to transfer to the oven makes this easy for busy weeknights or relaxed weekends.
- Comfort food: Meaty, savory, and satisfying—this is classic comfort in a skillet.
- Versatile: Add vegetables like carrots, zucchini, or broccoli for extra color and nutrition.
- Feeds a crowd: The recipe scales well—double it for parties or potlucks.
- Year-round favorite: Though popular in summer, it’s equally welcome during colder months as a warming side or main.
📃 Ingredient Description
- Ground beef: Use an 80/20 ratio for a good balance of flavor and moisture.
- Bacon: Smoked bacon (hickory or applewood) adds depth—cook it and reserve the fat for flavor.
- Canned baked beans: Drain most of the liquid for a thicker sauce, but choose your favorite brand or variety.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar adds caramel notes; adjust sweetness to taste.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds brightness and balances the sweetness.
- Onion: A sweet or white onion works best to mellow the flavors.
- Spices: Smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper provide the basic seasoning.
- Pepper: Jalapeño and green bell pepper add heat and freshness to cut through the richness.
- BBQ sauce: Contributes sweetness, tang, and a touch of smokiness.
- Tomato purée and ketchup: Build body and tomato flavor; use a lower-sugar ketchup if you prefer less sweetness.
- Worcestershire sauce: A little goes a long way to round out the savory profile.
Note: Substitutions will change texture and flavor slightly, but the options below work well when you want to adjust the original.
💭Variations and Substitutions
- Switch the protein: Try ground turkey, pork, or flavored sausage—adjust seasonings if the meat is already seasoned.
- Add mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms add an earthy note and pleasant texture.
- Peppers and heat: Use Anaheim peppers, different bell pepper colors, or chipotle powder for smoky heat.
- Different beans: If home-style baked beans aren’t available, use navy, pinto, cannellini, or kidney beans and adjust liquids and seasoning.
- Other bean flavors: Smoked beans, bourbon brown sugar, chipotle, or hot honey varieties also work well.
- Alternate sweeteners: Granulated sugar or maple syrup can be used in place of brown sugar with slight flavor differences.
Scroll to the recipe card below for the printable recipe with all ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
📝Step-by-Step Instructions
The recipe card below contains full details. Here are the key steps summarized:
Step 1: Cook the bacon in a cast-iron braiser or oven-safe skillet until slightly browned and crisp around the edges. Reserve the fat in the pan.
Step 2: Sauté the diced onion, then add the jalapeño and cook until fragrant.
Step 3: Add the ground beef and spices, breaking up the meat and cooking until browned.
Step 4: Stir in BBQ sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, tomato purée, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and diced green pepper.
Step 5: Fold in the slightly drained baked beans and the cooked bacon. Simmer briefly to meld flavors.
Step 6: Transfer the covered skillet or Dutch oven to a 350°F oven and bake until bubbly and lightly browned on top, about 50–55 minutes. Let rest slightly before serving.
👩🏽🍳Maur’s Tips
- Drain most of the sauce from the baked beans so the final casserole is not too runny.
- Use a Dutch oven or oven-safe cast iron skillet to make searing and baking effortless.
- Allow the dish to bake slowly so flavors meld and the top develops a nice color.
- This casserole also works as a dip with chips or served with garlic bread, making it a versatile party option.
How to Pair the Baked Beans with Meat
If serving as a side, these pairings work well:
- Potato salad (French-style or classic American)
- Rice: plain white rice, jollof, or dirty rice complement the dish nicely.
- Bread: any soft roll or a pillowy banana roll to soak up sauce.
- Cornbread: savory or slightly sweet cornbread is a classic match.
- Salads: a green salad, cucumber salad, or an herb-based salad brightens the meal.
📝Recipe FAQs
Yes. Cool completely, transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container, and freeze up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Yes. Cook the bacon and ground beef in advance, then sauté the onions and peppers on the day of serving. Combine all ingredients and bake as directed.
Love Beans? Here are More Beans Recipes to Try:
- Black-eyed Bean Salad
- Zucchini Bean Burger
- Duo Bean Tomato Basil Soup
- Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl
If you’ve tried this recipe or others from the site, please consider leaving a star rating and sharing your experience in the comments. Your feedback helps and is much appreciated.
PEACE & LOVE
Maureen
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📖 Recipe
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Equipment
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Cast iron skillet or Dutch oven
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Chopping board
Ingredients
- 5 slices thick bacon chopped
- 1 large sweet onion diced (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 jalapeño seeded and diced (about ¼ cup)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- salt and black pepper to taste (about 1 teaspoon each)
- 1 green pepper seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar (optional)
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup tomato purée (from 29 oz can)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 (28 ounces) cans baked beans (such as Bush’s)
Instructions
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1. Place bacon in a large cast-iron braiser, Dutch oven, or oven-safe skillet. Cook over medium heat for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly browned and crisp around the edges. Transfer bacon to a paper towel, leaving the fat in the skillet.
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2. In the same skillet, sauté the diced onion for about a minute, then add the jalapeño and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
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3. Add the ground beef and break it up. Season with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook until browned and the oil settles at the bottom, about 6 minutes.
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4. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
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5. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in BBQ sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, tomato purée, Worcestershire sauce, and diced green pepper. Mix until combined.
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6. Add the slightly drained baked beans and the cooked bacon. Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes, then transfer to the oven.
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7. Bake for 50–55 minutes, or until the beans are cooked through and the top is lightly browned. If your skillet doesn’t have a lid, cover with foil while baking.
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8. Remove from oven, allow to rest briefly, skim any excess oil if desired, stir, and serve with rolls, rice, or cornbread.
Notes
- Drain most of the sauce from the canned beans so the casserole isn’t too thin; the remaining liquids in the recipe will provide enough sauce.
- As a side, this dish can feed 10–12; as a main it serves about 6–8.