These Easy Baked Beans with Ground Beef are hearty, smoky, and sweet. They're simmered to perfection with savory beef, green peppers, brown sugar, and a hint of mustard. Bring these to your next potluck, or BBQ for a crowd-pleaser everyone will love!
This is my go-to recipe for friend and family gatherings along with my grilled Pulehu Chicken and Potato Salad with Spring Onions. I've made these hamburger baked beans countless times and I always get questions about the recipe. It's perfect because it's easy to make and it feeds a crowd. They're different from my Peach BBQ Baked Beans which are made from scratch.
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Why We Love This Recipe
- It's an easy one-pot meal which means clean-up is a breeze.
- This recipe feeds a crowd making it the perfect choice for holiday gatherings or summer BBQs.
- The ingredients are simple, you probably have most of them already.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Ground Beef - I enjoy using 80/20 ground beef because it's tender and packed with flavor. You're welcome to use a leaner cut if you prefer.
Green Bell Pepper - I've made this recipe countless times with red bell pepper or jalapeno as substitutes. The red bell pepper adds a slightly more robust flavor while the jalapeno is perfect for heat lovers. Be sure to remove the seeds before adding.
Baked Beans - I recommend using your favorite canned baked beans. You'll need a total of 66 ounces. My personal favorite is Bush's Southern Pit BBQ.
Yellow Mustard - This gives the hamburger baked beans the perfect Southern-style twist. You can substitute spicy brown mustard.
Brown Sugar - Adds the perfect sweetness to the beans. You can substitute molasses.
Hot Sauce - This is optional.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Baked Beans with Ground Beef Step by Step
Step 1: In a pot cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain the excess liquid and set aside.
Step 2: Place oil in the pan over medium heat and cook the green bell pepper and onion until the peppers become tender and the onions start to turn translucent.
Step 3: Add the beef back to the pot with the baked beans, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, and hot sauce. Stir well until fully combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes until fully heated through.
Oven Instructions
After cooking and draining the beef place in a Dutch oven or another oven-safe pot then add the remaining ingredients. Stir until well combined. Bake at 350 degrees until fully warmed through and bubbly.
Crock Pot Instructions
Add the cooked and drained ground hamburger to a crock pot with all the other ingredients. Stir to combine. Cook on high for 1 hour or on low for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Recipe Tips
If you want to scale down the recipe you can use 2 16oz cans of baked beans and then half the remaining ingredients.
If cooking on the stove stir the beans occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Enhance the baked beans by adding crumbled bacon to the recipe. Use some excess bacon grease to cook the bell peppers and onion for a smoky twist.
Tips for Storing and Reheating
- Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months
- Reheat in the microwave for 30-second increments stirring midway through until fully heated. You can also heat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through.
Common Questions
With a Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich, Herbs de Provence Grilled Chicken, or Dutch Oven Pulled Chicken.
No, the beans should not become mushy or too soft. Be sure not to over-stir which may break some of the beans.
Yes absolutely! Be sure to store it in the fridge and serve it within 1-2 days for the best results.
More Sides Like This
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Easy Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 green bell pepper finely diced
- ½ onion finely diced
- 3 22 oz cans baked beans
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire
- ¾ tablespoon yellow mustard
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon hot sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Stovetop Method
- In a pot cook the ground beef over medium to medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain the excess liquid and set aside.
- Place oil in the pan over medium heat and cook the green bell pepper and onion until the peppers become tender and the onions start to turn translucent.
- Add the beef back to the pot with the baked beans, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, and hot sauce. Stir well until fully combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and cook on low for 30 minutes until fully heated through.
Oven Method
- After cooking and draining the beef place in a Dutch oven or another oven-safe pot then add the remaining ingredients. Stir until well combined. Bake at 350 degrees until fully warmed through and bubbly.
Slow Cooker Method
- Add the cooked and drained ground hamburger to a crock pot with all the other ingredients. Stir to combine. Cook on high for 1 hour or on low for 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Jeff Betosky says
Made this for our Fourth of July cookout and they were a hit! So much flavor and perfect amount of spice. Definitely going on repeat.
Kate says
That makes me so happy to hear! So glad they were a hit at your Fourth of July cookout—love that they’re going on repeat!
Joe says
Wow! Easy, quick, and delicious. What else could you ask for. I’m not a spicy eater, but this is loaded with the perfect combination of sweet added with a little spice for flavor. What a great dish for family gatherings!! Will definitely make it again.
Kate says
I’m so glad you loved it—even more so since you’re not big on spice! Sweet with just the right kick is exactly what I was going for. Thanks for making it!
Austin bukowski says
Whipped these up in the crock pot for our Fourth of July BBQ and everyone went back for seconds! I added a little more hot sauce because we like them spicy.
Kate says
Love hearing that! So glad they were a hit at your Fourth of July BBQ—always a win when everyone goes back for seconds!
Barbara Waits says
These baked beans are superb! Thick and rich with a little kick. I can’t eat hot spices, but this is just right. This will be my go to recipe for sure!!
Kate says
I'm so glad to hear that you loved the baked beans! That perfect balance of rich flavor with just a little kick is exactly what I was going for. So happy it's not too spicy for you—and even happier to hear it's your new go-to! Thanks for sharing! 😊
Brigitte Shade says
This is such a good baked bean recipe! Perfect for holidays or a church potluck. Don’t skip the fresh green pepper. I will definitely be making this again. I received so many compliments.
Kate says
I’m so happy to hear that it was a hit—and those compliments are the best kind of feedback! Totally agree about the green pepper—it adds such a nice pop of flavor. Thanks for making the recipe and sharing it with others!