Delicious Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon (Print version)

Sweet, smoky baked beans with ground beef and bacon, thickened in the oven until glossy and hearty enough for a cookout plate.

# Ingredients:

For the meat and beans

01 - 8 oz (225 g) bacon, chopped

02 - 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef

03 - 1 small yellow onion, diced

04 - 1/2 green bell pepper, diced

05 - 2 cans (28 oz each or 1.6 kg total) baked beans

For the sauce

06 - 1/2 cup (120 g) barbecue sauce

07 - 1/3 cup (80 g) ketchup

08 - 1/3 cup (70 g) packed brown sugar

09 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

10 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

11 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

12 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

02 - Cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until the edges are crisp, 6-8 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and leave about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the skillet.

03 - Add the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up the beef, until the beef is fully browned and the vegetables soften, 7-9 minutes. Drain extra grease.

04 - Stir in the barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, pepper, and salt until the beef is evenly coated.

05 - Fold in the baked beans and half of the cooked bacon. Stir gently so the beans do not turn mushy.

06 - Spread the mixture in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining bacon over the top and bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, until thick and bubbling around the edges.

07 - Let the beans rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Taste and adjust salt only after resting, since the sauce gets more concentrated as it cools slightly.

# Good to know:

01 - Makes 8 hearty side servings.

02 - For a thicker potluck-style pan, bake uncovered for the full 40 minutes.

03 - Ground beef should be fully browned before mixing with the beans.

Back