Transform humble ingredients into a delicious meal with this recipe for Baked Beans With Ground Beef!
I make ground beef casseroles with just about anything, so why did I never think about doing it with baked beans until now? I live for baked beans and hot dogs, so this feels like a natural progression, and let me tell you, it’s certainly tasty. Can we also talk about how easy it is to make?
No, you won’t get dinner on the table in under 30 minutes, like some other recipes, but you will only need to spend a few minutes putting it together. The rest of the time, it simply bakes in the oven until bubbly and utterly delicious. When I think about everything else I can accomplish during the time that it spends baking, I can easily knock a few chores off my to-do list.
After all, no matter how often you do them, there are always more dishes and laundry to wash, not to mention floors to vacuum, dusting, bills to pay, and… oh, you get the picture. Being able to prepare dinner and accomplish other tasks simultaneously is a win-win in my book.
Now, you may be wondering if this is considered an entrée or a side dish. I suppose it depends on when and where you’re serving it. When I prepare this to serve at home, it becomes the main course, served with a side salad and some vegetables. However, when I take it to a get-together or picnic, it often joins the other side dishes. It’s a versatile dish that you can use however you like.
Turn canned baked beans into a protein-packed meal
I recall buying those ground meat “helper” boxed meals at the grocery store years ago. You know the ones, full of artificial ingredients, preservatives, and other things we couldn’t pronounce. Most of the time, the primary ingredient was plain wheat pasta, offering little to no nutritional value.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love a good bowl of pasta like anyone. But think for a minute about how combining ground beef with plant protein and fiber-rich beans will provide better nutrients to your body. There’s a reason why beans are called nutritional powerhouses, and mixing them with ground beef makes perfect sense to me.
Whether you’re enjoying this as a side dish or as your dinner entrée, you get a hefty helping of both plant and animal protein. Of course, you can also make this meal using ground chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, or even plant-protein crumbles. No matter what you choose, you wind up with a delicious dish that will disappear right before your eyes.
How do I store leftovers?
Allow leftover baked beans and ground beef to cool to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This dish also freezes well, so once it has been chilled, spoon leftovers into silicone or plastic freezer bags or freezer-safe containers and store for up to 3 months. Defrost the frozen leftovers overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the microwave, oven, or on the stove.
Serving suggestions
Because baked beans and ground beef can be served as a main course or a side dish, I’ll provide you with serving suggestions for both options. Let’s start by making this your main course. A crisp, refreshing Strawberry-Walnut Salad makes a great starter. This Sweet Potato Cornbread is the perfect side, especially when paired with this quick and easy Microwave Broccoli or Carrot Fries.
Now, let’s look at what to serve when using this recipe as a side dish, such as at a barbecue. It goes great alongside Hawaiian BBQ Chicken, Grilled Squash, and Old-Fashioned Potato Salad. No matter how or when you serve it, wow everyone with a Lemon Icebox Pie for dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper finely chopped, red or green
- 4 12-ounce cans baked beans
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt plus more, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Add the ground beef, chopped onion, and bell peppers to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Transfer the cooked beef and onions into a large bowl. Stir in the baked beans, brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well mixed.
- Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and bake uncovered for 70-75 minutes, or until bubbly and heated through. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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