Meet the southern baked beans recipe of your dreams! Baked Beans with Ground Beef make a hearty side dish for your next family meal or summer cookout. A Beef and a bean medley provide the basis of the rich flavors, and a combination of sauces and seasonings makes the dish sweet and tangy. Feeling wild? Add some bacon!
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Last week, I drove past a car with a license plate that read “EAT BEEF.” An interesting statement to have plastered on a vehicle, but a good reminder nonetheless. So, I went home and whipped up this dish for dinner: baked beans with ground beef. Today, I’m excited to share my take on this classic Southern dish with you!
If this were a movie, the ground beef would be cast in a supporting role, while the bean medley would shine as the star. This recipe calls for traditional canned baked beans, and a mixture of black, kidney, pinto and/or white beans.
While this recipe might not be as loud as an “EAT BEEF” license plate, I’m hoping you’ll take this as a reminder to include baked beans with hamburger meat in your summer menu rotation — ideal for upcoming Memorial Day gathering, Fourth of July celebrations, or casual backyard dinners.
This is what we’ve all bean waiting for — so let’s get into it!
For more delicious bean recipes, check out my Instant Pot Baked Beans, 5 Bean Salad, Refried Bean Dip, and Instant Pot Bean Soup.
Why You'll Love This Baked Beans with Ground Beef Recipe
Supporting each other in their depth of flavor and smokiness, the blend of baked beans and ground beef, as well as a variety of sauces, seasonings, and spices, packs a punch that’s a certifiable crowd pleaser at any backyard gathering this summer.
- Packed with flavor — Savory, smoky, sweet, and tangy. This bean dish is like nothing you've tasted before.
- Easy preparation — The lineup of ingredients might seem unusual (molasses AND hot sauce? Just trust me) — but the recipe is simple, straightforward, and foolproof.
- Dress it up or down — A beloved Southern dish, this easy baked beans recipe with ground beef is casual enough for simple weekday dinners, while being ready to take center stage at a summer barbecue or potluck.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Beans - Grab some cans of Bush's original baked beans (or your favorite brand), black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, or white beans.
Ground Beef - What's better than baked beans with meat? Ground beef offers incredible flavor here. Make sure it's ground well for browning, which releases even more flavor.
Sauces - Worcestershire sauce offers complexity, ketchup gives a sweet tang, and hot sauce provides a subtle punch.
Molasses & Brown Sugar - Gives a sweet balance to the meatiness of the beans and ground beef, while also giving the dish its trademark dark brown, caramelized appearance. Substitution: Use maple syrup instead of brown sugar for slightly less sweetness.
Onions - Chopped onion gives the dish more taste and texture.
Seasonings - Salt, garlic powder, onion powder, yellow mustard powder, and black pepper add to the tanginess and offset the sweetness from the molasses and brown sugar. Optional: Add smoked paprika and/or chili powder for an extra kick!
How to Make Baked Beans with Ground Beef
For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray an 8x13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Brown the ground beef in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling as it cooks, for 5-6 minutes or until browned.
Step 3: If you plan on adding bacon to the beans, drain the excess grease from the ground beef in a colander over a paper towel-lined plate.
Tip: Do not drain the beef if you don't plan on adding bacon. The dish needs the extra fat to be saucy and scoopable
Step 4: Add the ground beef to a large mixing bowl with the chopped bacon (if using), baked beans, drained and rinsed beans, ketchup, brown sugar, salt, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, molasses, minced red onion, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, and black pepper. Mix well until combined.
Step 5: Pour the baked bean mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cover and bake at 375°F for 1 ½ hours.
Step 6. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes until the sauce is reduced, syrupy, and bubbling. Serve hot!
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Add bacon. Bacon = happiness. Include ½ cup chopped bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces, to give these hamburger baked beans a smokier flavor and more luscious sauce. My mouth is watering just writing this!
- Draining the beef. If you're adding bacon, I recommend draining the beef to prevent the beans from becoming too greasy. Alternatively, if you omit the bacon, do not drain the meat, as the beans require some fat for optimal sauce consistency and flavor.
- Ground beef alternatives. If you don't have ground beef on hand and are in a pinch, you can also use ground chicken, turkey, or pork.
- Include veggies. Bell peppers are a great addition to these baked beans. Add the peppers when you mix the ground beef with the minced onions and seasonings.
- Vegetarian? No problem! Vegetarian friends, you can enjoy baked beans with hamburger meat, too! Substitute ground beef for a plant-based beef option, like Beyond Meat.
Serving Suggestions
Baked beans with hamburger meat are the perfect side dish for a cookout or BBQ spread! Enjoy alongside Southern classics and summer-time favorites like Cheesy Ranch Air Fryer Turkey Burgers, Healthy Cornbread, or White Cheddar Mac and Cheese.
This recipe yields 16-20 servings.
Storage Directions
- Refrigerating: Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Keep covered in an airtight container or with aluminum foil for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: This bean dish freezes well up to 3 months! Defrost overnight in the fridge.
- Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 375°F, or microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.
FAQs
Yes, make the beans (all steps up until baking) up to 1 day ahead of time. Store it covered in the fridge and bake it before serving.
Yes, instead of baking, pour the mixture into a crockpot and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4 hours, stirring periodically.
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Recipe Card
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup chopped bacon optional -- see more about draining in the recipe card and the notes section
- 2, 15- oz cans of baked beans
- 4, 15- oz cans of beans black, kidney, pinto, navy and/or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3-4 shakes of hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- ½ cup minced red onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray an 8x13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumbling as it cooks, for 5-6 minutes or until browned.
- If adding the bacon to the beans, drain the excess grease from the ground beef in a colander over a paper towel-lined plate. If you do not use the bacon, do not drain the meat. The beans require some fat for optimal sauce consistency.
- Add the ground beef to a large mixing bowl. Add the bacon (if using), baked beans, drained and rinsed beans, ketchup, brown sugar, salt, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, molasses, minced red onion, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, and black pepper. Mix well until combined.
- Pour the baked bean mixture into the prepared baking pan. Cover and bake for 1 ½ hours. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes until the sauce is reduced, syrupy, and bubbling. Serve hot!
Notes
- Refrigerating: Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Keep covered in an airtight container or with aluminum foil for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: This bean dish freezes well up to 3 months! Defrost overnight in the fridge.
- Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 375°F, or microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.
- Draining the beef. If you're adding bacon, I recommend draining the beef to prevent the beans from becoming too greasy. Alternatively, if you omit the bacon, do not drain the meat, as the beans require some fat for optimal sauce consistency and flavor.
- Add bacon. Bacon = happiness. Include ½ cup chopped bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces, to give these hamburger baked beans a smokier flavor and more luscious sauce. My mouth is watering just writing this!
- Ground beef alternatives. If you don't have ground beef on hand and are in a pinch, you can also use ground chicken, turkey, or pork.
- Include veggies. Bell peppers are a great addition to these baked beans. Add the peppers when you mix the ground beef with the minced onions and seasonings.
- Vegetarian? No problem! Vegetarian friends, you can enjoy baked beans with hamburger meat, too! Substitute ground beef for a plant-based beef option, like Beyond Meat.
