This hearty Southern baked beans with ground beef recipe is the perfect comfort food. It’s made with prepared baked beans, savory ground beef, and a sweet, flavorful sauce, for a delicious side dish. They’re so good, you’ll be tempted to eat them by themselves! So why wait? Give this tasty recipe a try and see for yourself just how delicious a baked beans recipe from scratch can be!
How to make canned baked beans better
Using prepared baked beans is a quick way to add a tasty side dish to your meal. However, many people find that canned beans are often bland. Add ground beef or even sausage, along with your choice of additional spices, which can greatly enhance the flavor.
Substitute canned baked beans for scratch
Looking for a recipe for baked beans from scratch? Simply substitute canned baked beans in the recipe below with this one:
Baked beans from scratch recipe
To make this recipe using baked beans from scratch, you will need to soak dried navy beans overnight, then boil them until tender. While the beans are cooking, cook some bacon, then sauté onions and garlic in the bacon fat. Combine the cooked beans with the sautéed onions and garlic, tomato sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
From here, simply add ground beef and green peppers, combined with the bean mixture, and place in the oven.
Beans used for baked beans
Navy beans, great northern beans, and kidney beans. Navy beans are small, and the ones most often found in canned baked beans. White beans have a mild flavor and hold their shape well during cooking. Great northern beans are also good because they are large and have a creamy texture. Kidney beans can also as well, but I often add them in to supplement the navy beans.
Are baked beans gluten-free?
Yes. Baked beans are naturally gluten-free. Beware of additional ingredients you may add to them. Gluten is in wheat, barley, and rye. It helps foods keep their shape, but some people have trouble digesting it and need to avoid it.
Can you make baked beans in a crock pot?
Absolutely. This recipe tastes better the longer it cooks as the flavors infuse. Prepare the recipe in a large pot at medium-high heat, then transfer the baked beans to your crock pot. Simmer for 3 – 4 hours.
What to serve with baked beans
Baked beans are a versatile side dish. Serve with a variety of main courses. Here are a few ideas for dishes to serve alongside baked beans:
- Grilled chicken: Baked beans are a classic pairing for grilled or fried chicken
- Seafood: Baked beans are a great way to add some heartiness to a seafood dish. Try serving them with steamed shrimp, lobster, or scallops.
- Meatloaf: The savory flavors of the beans complement the rich flavor of the meatloaf perfectly.
Recipe for the best-baked beans
This baked beans in a crock pot using canned beans recipe is my absolute favorite! The addition of ground beef and bacon, along with onion and fresh green peppers, makes this more than your average side dish. Try a bowl of these baked beans with a slice of cornbread for the perfect lunch.
Southern Baked Beans with Ground Beef Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cans Bush’s Original Baked Beans
- ½ lb ground beef, sliced into small pieces
- 1 can kidney beans, 15.5oz, drained
- 3 slices country bacon
- 1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 onion, medium, chopped
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tsbp yellow mustard, prepared
Instructions
- Preheat large skillet over medium-high heat
- Add in bacon slices and cook until it starts to brown
- Add in green pepper, onion, and ground beef, Cook for 5 -10 minutes to soften peppers and onions, and to brown the meat.
- Remove from heat and place in 8×8 or 9×9 pan. Mix in the remaining ingredients.
- Place in 325°F preheated oven. Cook for 1 hour.
