Make easy stovetop baked beans with ground beef in under an hour. This BBQ side dish uses canned baked beans and simple pantry staples and has a delicious smoky-sweet flavor.
Made with canned baked beans, ground beef, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, and everyday ingredients, this easy recipe for Southern baked beans comes together with minimal prep and simmers into a thick, meaty side dish everyone will want seconds of.
This is perfect for summer cookouts, potlucks, weeknight dinners, or anytime hot dogs and burgers are on the menu. You KNOW I'm making these on Memorial Day. Serve them alongside BBQ chicken drumsticks, Crockpot mac and cheese, dill pickle egg salad, and funeral potatoes.
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Shortcut Notes
- Easy recipe: This easy baked beans recipe uses canned beans and is made on the stovetop.
- One-pot side dish: Everything comes together in one large skillet or Dutch oven for easy cleanup.
- Pantry-friendly ingredients: These ingredients are simple staples you may already have on hand.
Ingredient Breakdown
- Ground beef: Lean ground beef works best for hamburger baked beans since there is less grease to drain after browning.
- Yellow onion: Finely diced.
- Baked Beans: I prefer Bush's Original Baked Beans.
- Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and helps balance the savory beef and tangy sauce.
- Ketchup: Adds sweetness and a tomatoey flavor.
- BBQ sauce: Deepens the smoky flavor.
- Yellow mustard: Adds a little tang.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds savory depth and richness.
- Seasoning: Smoked paprika and garlic powder.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Add the diced onions and cook until softened, then drain any excess grease.
Add the baked beans, brown sugar, ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Stir until well combined.
Reduce heat to low and let simmer uncovered for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and glossy. Remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes before serving. The mixture will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Tip: If it gets too thick, add a small splash of water to loosen it.
Substitutions
- Ground beef: Use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
- Yellow onion: White onion and sweet onion work well too.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work, or sugar can be omitted.
- Ketchup: This can be substituted with a tablespoon or two of tomato paste.
- Yellow mustard: Dijon mustard or spicy brown mustard can work for a stronger flavor.
Behind the Recipe
My son never liked baked beans until I started testing this recipe. Now he asks for baked beans all the time.
My top tip is to let the beans simmer long enough. That extra time helps the sauce thicken and gives the flavors time to come together. Also, use a BBQ sauce you love since the flavor comes through quite a bit in the finished dish.
Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear what you think! Please take a moment to leave a rating and review—it helps me create high-quality recipes and lets others know what to expect.
FAQ
Yes. These baked beans with hamburger meat reheat really well, which makes them great for meal prep, potlucks, or cookouts.
Yes. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 1 hour until bubbly and thickened.
Yes. Brown the ground beef and onion first, then add everything to a crock pot and cook on Low for 3 to 4 hours.
📖 Recipe
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- 3 (16 ounce) cans Bush’s Original Baked Beans
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Add the diced onions and cook until softened, then drain any excess grease.
- Add the baked beans, brown sugar, ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Stir until well combined.
- Reduce heat to low and let simmer uncovered for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and glossy. Remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes before serving. The mixture will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Notes
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of serving (or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90ºF).
- Use a clean spoon when stirring to avoid cross-contamination.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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Carol says
So happy you're bringing this and your yummy marshmallow fruit dip to our Memorial Day swim. I love your creations!
Kelsey Smith says
I hope you love my recipe, if you give it a try please leave a review.