The Best Southern Baked Beans with Ground Beef

These baked beans with ground beef (also known as southern baked beans) are the perfect blend of sweet and savory. They are hearty, flavorful, and the perfect addition to your cookout, bbq or picnic!

Baked beans are a classic cookout side dish that everyone loves. This southern style baked beans recipe so easy to make and full of flavor. Starting with cans of baked beans makes this recipe come together quickly. These meaty baked beans are an easy side dish perfect to serve with all your bbq dinners.

I’ve always loved opening up a can of baked beans to serve alongside grilled meals, and this easy recipe takes cans of beans and levels them up into the best baked beans ever! We love this recipe for any occasion!

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FAQ & Tips For Southern Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Can I make this recipe in a cast iron skillet –

Yes! These southern style baked beans can be made in a baking pan, a Dutch oven or a cast iron skillet (as long as they are oven safe) You can cook the meat, bacon and onions in a skillet and use the same skillet to bake the beans. Keep in mind that cooking time will vary depending on what kind of pan you use. Keep an eye on them so that they don’t over bake and get dry or burnt.

How to serve these meaty baked beans-

These recipe is an easy side dish for so many things! They are great with simple cookout food like hot dogs or hamburgers. They are also perfect alongside grilled chicken, steak or pulled pork. They are great to take to barbeques or parties, everyone loves them! Since these beans are full of bacon and hamburger you can even eat make this recipe as a delicious dinner! We serve it up with some fresh veggies like broccoli, green beans or corn on the cob for an easy and tasty meal.

How to store and reheat baked beans-

Store leftover baked beans with hamburger meat refrigerated in an airtight container. They can be reheated in the microwave, the oven or on the stove top. To reheat them in the oven cover the pan and place it in the oven at 350 degrees until the beans are heated through. To reheat them on the stove place them in a pot and heat over low heat stirring frequently. If they need extra liquid add a couple of tablespoons of beef broth to loosen the sauce an add moisture.

Optional additions to baked beans with hamburger meat –

Bell Peppers– Chopped peppers add another layer of flavor to this easy baked beans recipe. Red bell pepper adds a touch of sweetness, while green bell pepper adds a fresh flavor. If you add red or green peppers you’ll want to finely dice them and sauté them with the chopped onions.

Molasses – Light brown sugar adds a sweetness to this baked beans recipe, but if you want another layer of sweetness and flavor you can add a bit of molasses. I like to substitute 1/4 cup of brown sugar for 1/4 cup of molasses for a rich taste. 

Ingredients for these Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon

• • Ground Beef – I like to use 80/20 for this recipe because it has great flavor and doesn’t dry out. You can use a more lean ground beef if desired. If you prefer ground turkey or ground chicken you can use them in this recipe.

• • Bacon Slices – I like to use regular cut slices of bacon, if you prefer thicker chunks of bacon you can use thick cut bacon strips.

• • Canned Baked Beans – You can use your favorite canned baked beans for this recipe. I like to use a neutral one so that the flavor isn’t altered. The Bush’s original baked beans or home style baked beans are a great choice.

• • Onion – I like to use a yellow onion for this recipe. You can also use white onion or sweet Vidalia onion for a sweeter taste.

• • Brown Sugar – Brown sugar adds delicious sweetness to this recipe. Depending on how sweet you want your baked beans you can vary how much you use.

• • Ketchup – You can use regular ketchup, or sugar free if you prefer.

• • Brown Mustard – Mustard adds a delicious flavor to these beans. I prefer them with brown mustard but if you prefer to use yellow mustard or Dijon mustard you can use them instead.

• • Apple Cider Vinegar – Vinegar creates a great contrast with the brown sugar to create a delicious savory flavor.

How to Make Baked Beans with Hamburger Meat

Preheat the oven to 350.

First place the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle it with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring and crumbling the meat as it cooks until it is cooked through and the ground beef is no longer pink.

Remove the ground beef from the skillet and drain off any excess grease and set aside.

Chop the bacon into small pieces and place it in the skillet over medium heat.

Cook the chopped bacon stirring frequently until it is cooked to your desired crispiness. Remove bacon from the skillet and drain on a plate lined with paper towels.

Keep a small amount of bacon grease in your skillet and a add in your chopped onions. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.

Drain the canned baked beans and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked bacon and ground beef and cooked onions, stir to combine.

In a medium size bowl combine the ketchup, mustard, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Stir until well combined.

Pour the sauce mixture over the bean mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly coated.

Spread the beans in a 13×9 inch baking dish.

Place the beans in the oven for 1 hour.

Remove from the oven and serve warm.

The Best Southern Baked Beans with Ground Beef

These baked beans with ground beef (also known as southern baked beans) are the perfect blend of sweet and savory. They are hearty, flavorful, and the perfect addition to your cookout, bbq or picnic!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• 8 Bacon Slices
• 3 15 oz Cans of Baked Beans
• 1 Cup Chopped Onion
• 3/4 Cup Brown Sugar use 1/2 cup for less sweetness or 1 cup for more sweetness
• 1 Cup Ketchup
• 2 tsp Brown Mustard
• 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350.
• Place the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle it with salt and black pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring and crumbling the meat as it cooks until it is cooked through and the ground beef is no longer pink.
• Remove the ground beef from the skillet and drain off any excess grease and set aside.
• Chop the bacon into small pieces and place it in the skillet over medium heat.
• Cook the chopped bacon stirring frequently until it is cooked to your desired crispiness. Remove bacon from the skillet and drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
• Keep a small amount of bacon grease in your skillet and a add in your chopped onions. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
• Drain (do NOT rinse) the canned baked beans and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked bacon and ground beef and cooked onions, stir to combine.
• In a medium size bowl combine the ketchup, mustard, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Stir until well combined.
• Pour the sauce mixture over the bean mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
• Spread the beans in a 13×9 inch baking dish.
• Place the beans in the oven for 1 hour.
• Remove from the oven and serve warm.

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