Easy Baked Beans with Ground Beef

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Easy Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Savory baked beans with ground beef and bacon are sweet, smoky, and hearty! They're the ultimate “doctored up” baked beans! Made with canned baked beans, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce, they bake up thick and flavorful. Perfect for cookouts, potlucks, or an easy weeknight side.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings

Calories 534kcal

Author Anne Clark

Equipment

Large Saute Pan
measuring spoons
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

Taste Before Adding Salt - Baked beans and bacon already contain salt, so taste the beans before adding any more. If needed, add a small amount at a time, stir, and taste again.

Don't Overmix - Gently stir or fold in the beans to keep them from becoming mushy. Less is more when it comes to mixing baked beans.

Use Pre-Cooked Bacon - This is my favorite shortcut! Cut the pre-cooked bacon into small pieces and lay it on top. It crisps up nicely while the beans bake.

Grab Your Kitchen Scissors - Kitchen scissors make quick work of cutting the bacon and slicing the green onions. Less chopping and easier cleanup!

Make Ahead - Prep the ground beef mixture the day before. Cook and drain the beef, then mix in the brown sugar, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Cool, cover, and refrigerate. When you're ready to bake, gently fold in the beans, taste for salt, top with bacon, and bake as directed.

Nutrition