Baked Beans With Ground Beef

Baked beans with ground beef is a hearty Southern-style recipe made with seasoned ground beef, Bush’s baked beans, green bell pepper, onion, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard. Everything bakes together until the sauce thickens while still staying saucy and almost stew-like.

Ingredient Tips

Baked Beans

I use Bush’s baked beans because that’s what I grew up eating and I’ve always preferred the flavor over cheaper brands. Since the beans make up most of the dish, starting with a canned baked bean you already like makes a noticeable difference.

Ground Beef

Stick with lean ground beef. A fattier blend can release too much grease into the beans, which can make the sauce look separated instead of smooth and saucy.

Green Bell Pepper

Green bell pepper is the classic choice in this recipe and the way my mom always made it. It softens completely during baking, so you don’t get a crunchy bite, but its earthy flavor helps cut through some of the sweetness.

Yellow Onion

I stick with yellow onion because it’s the classic choice for this recipe and the type I grew up seeing used. It softens completely along with the green pepper as the beans bake.

Barbecue Sauce

Sweet Baby Ray’s is my usual choice and the barbecue sauce I associate with this style of baked beans. It gives the beans the sweet, smoky barbecue flavor I expect from the recipe.

Yellow Mustard

Regular yellow mustard is all you need here. It’s the classic option, easy to find, and helps balance the sweeter ingredients without changing the overall flavor of the beans.

How To Make Baked Beans With Ground Beef

1. Brown the ground beef

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Heat a Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot over medium heat with a little oil, then cook the lean ground beef until it is almost completely browned.

2. Add the peppers and onions

Stir in the diced yellow onion and green bell pepper. Season lightly with salt and black pepper, then cook until the onion is translucent and the vegetables have softened. Add a little more oil if the pan becomes too dry.

3. Add the beans and sauce ingredients

Lower the heat to medium and stir in the baked beans, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard until everything is evenly combined.

4. Bake

Transfer the pot to the oven and bake for 1 hour. At this point, everything is already cooked, so the oven time is mainly about reducing the sauce and bringing the beans to the right consistency.

5. Check the thickness

Give the beans a good stir when they come out of the oven. They should be thick and saucy, with a consistency closer to a hearty stew than a dry baked bean casserole. If they are still looser than you like, return them to the oven for a little longer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What To Serve With Baked Beans and Ground Beef

At a cookout, these baked beans are an easy side for hamburgers, hot dogs, or barbecue chicken. The sweet, smoky beans work especially well with grilled and barbecue-style meats.

For a more traditional weeknight dinner, I grew up seeing them served with things like fried chicken or fried pork chops. They’re hearty enough that you don’t need many other sides alongside them.

More Baked Bean Recipes

• Cowboy Baked Beans – Hearty baked beans with ground beef and bacon that can be made in the oven or slow cooker.
• Dr Pepper Baked Beans – Sweet and smoky baked beans flavored with Dr Pepper for an easy cookout side.
• Crockpot Baked Beans – An easy slow-cooker version that’s great when you want to keep the oven free.