My Baked Beans with Ground Beef are hearty, sweet, and savory Southern baked beans that start with canned baked beans and get doctored up with ground beef, smoky bacon, and brown sugar. They're super easy to make, and I've been told they are the best baked beans (I agree!).
These baked beans and my Southern Mac and Cheese are always our top two favorites!
Quick Look: Baked Beans with Ground Beef
- ⏲️Ready in: 40 minutes
- 👪Serves: 8-10
- 🥘Key Ingredients: Canned baked beans, ground beef, bacon, brown sugar, green onions, Worcestershire sauce
- 🍳Method: Stovetop then oven
- ⭐Difficulty: Easy
- 👩🍳Texture/Flavor: Hearty, sweet, smoky
- ☀️Best For: Cookouts, potlucks, family gatherings, and holiday meals
- ✅Why You'll Love It: Easy to make with canned baked beans, but loaded with homemade flavor
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Baked beans are a popular side dish for cookouts, potlucks, family gatherings, and holidays. If you're planning a party or get-together, my quick and easy Jalapeño Bacon Cheese Ball makes a great appetizer to serve beforehand.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Baked Beans with Ground Beef have all the boxes checked for an easy side dish!
10-minute Prep Time - This recipe is an easy side dish because there isn't a lot of chopping involved. Use your kitchen scissors to snip the green onions and the bacon. Also, there's no need to cook the bacon first since it cooks with the beans!
Canned beans - Start with canned baked beans for a true Southern classic - all doctored up with ground beef, smoky bacon, and a sweet-savory sauce that'll have everyone asking for seconds.
Crowd Pleaser - Just about everyone loves baked beans! They go with just about any meat, and this recipe makes 8-10 servings. Easily double the recipe for a larger crowd.
Hearty Side Dish - The ground beef gives this side dish a hearty texture, and the bacon gives it a wonderful smoky flavor. And of course, the brown sugar makes it all come together with just the right amount of sweetness.
Add some freshness to your plate with my Broccoli Cauliflower Salad - it's cool, crunchy, and full of smoky bacon flavor.
Key Ingredients
Hamburger meat and bacon add a savory element, providing a rich and meaty flavor that complements the sweetness of the beans.
Ground Beef - makes for a rich and hearty side dish (or main meal!).
Hickory Smoked Bacon - adds a delicious smoked flavor; so no need to add any liquid smoke. Cut the bacon into small pieces about 1-inch squares. You can use either raw bacon or pre-cooked bacon! I love the pre-cooked bacon because it crisps up nicely while baking.
Bush's Original Baked Beans - canned baked beans make this recipe so tasty and easy!
Dark Brown Sugar - adds sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor.
Worcestershire Sauce - adds a savory, tangy flavor that balances the sweetness of the beans.
Green Onions - wash the green onions, hold them tightly together in a bunch, then use scissors to slice them.
Ingredient Swaps
- Green Bell Pepper - If you don't like onions, leave them out and use one small chopped green bell pepper instead. I recommend cooking the bell pepper with the ground beef first to soften it.
- Yellow Onion - use minced or chopped yellow onion instead of green onion if that's all you have.
- Light Brown Sugar - if all you have is light brown sugar, you can use it in place of the dark brown sugar. The beans won't have as much molasses flavor, but it will work just fine.
- Ground Sausage - spice it up by using half ground sausage and half ground beef. Thanks for the tip, Jera 🙂
How to Make Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Step by step photos and instructions help ensure recipe success!
Photo 1: Cook the ground beef and drain off the fat. Add the dark brown sugar, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and salt. Mix well.
Photo 2: Add both cans of beans and gently stir.
Photo 3: Pour the mixture into a large baking dish. Lay the cut bacon strips on top. New shortcut tip! Use precooked bacon, cut it up into pieces, and lay it on top.
Photo 4: Bake at 400F uncovered for about 30 minutes.
Anne's Recipe Tips
Taste and Adjust - before adding any salt to the beans, do a taste test first. Then if salt is needed, add a small amount at a time, stir, and taste again.
Don't Overmix - to avoid soggy or mushy beans, gently stir or fold in the beans. Less is more when it comes to mixing beans.
Make Ahead - you can make this dish the day before. Just cook and drain the hamburger meat, mix in the dark brown sugar, sliced green onions, Worcestershire Sauce, and pepper. Let cool, cover, and place in the refrigerator. Then when you're ready to bake them, fold in the beans and top with bacon. Bake as directed.
Easy Meal Plan
My husband can make a meal out of baked beans, but most other humans prefer to have the beans as a side to the main course. When served as a main meal, serve with French bread, saltine crackers, or Mexican Cornbread. As a side dish, baked beans are fantastic with oven baked brats, juicy steaks, or Easy Grilled Salmon with BBQ Sauce.
Serving these baked beans for the holidays? They pair perfectly with my Orange Marmalade Glazed Ham, Southern Cornbread Dressing, and Crockpot Green Bean Casserole for an easy Thanksgiving or Christmas meal.
Storing and Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave. These beans also freeze beautifully for up to 3 months; just thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat before serving.
Baked Beans with ground beef FAQs
These baked beans are a perfect side dish for all kinds of meats such as hamburgers, hot dogs, or ribs. Every time I make these beans, people compliment them. Try them with my Panko Chicken Tenders, Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin, or Southern Meatloaf.
Keep any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure they are stored in an airtight container. We like to use BPA-free glass food storage containers with locking lids.
Yes, you can! The beans must be completely cooled off before placing them in the freezer. Helpful Tip - I like to refrigerate them first, for about 4 hours to get them nice and chilled. Then place them in an airtight, freezer-friendly container (such as the ones I mention above) and store them for up to 3 months.
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Recipe
Easy Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Equipment
- Large Saute Pan
- measuring cup
- Kitchen shears
- Casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1 cup Dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup Green onions, sliced approximately 1 bunch
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 28-oz cans baked beans Bush Original
- Dash salt taste test before adding salt!
- 6-8 strips Hickory smoked bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces raw or pre-cooked
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- In a large pan or skillet, cook the ground beef and drain off the fat. Turn off the heat. Add the dark brown sugar, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Mix well.1 pound Ground beef, 1 cup Dark brown sugar, packed, 1 cup Green onions, sliced , 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Black pepper
- Add the canned beans and gently mix. Taste the mixture and add salt if desired; gently stir again. Over mixing will cause the beans to get too soft and/or mushy.2 28-oz cans baked beans
- Pour into a large casserole dish. Lay the cut bacon pieces on top.6-8 strips Hickory smoked bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Bake in the oven uncovered for about 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2018 and was updated in 2026.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
Paula May Bambot says
My husband loves these beans !! I make them weekly ! Thank You
Anne Clark says
Yay Paula! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I'm happy you and your hubby loved the baked beans!