Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Baked Beans with Ground Beef

from babaganosh.org
55 min

These easy Baked Beans with Ground Beef are thick and stewy, sort of like a saucy BBQ chili. They are the most flavorful side dish, or make them as the main dish!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef ((90% or 93% lean is best))
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion (diced)
  • 2-3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1.5 teaspoons salt
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika (or sweet paprika and a few drops of liquid smoke)
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ⅔ cup ketchup
  • ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup apple juice (or water)
  • 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 14-oz cans kidney beans ((dark red or light red kidney beans), drained but not rinsed)
  • 2 14-oz cans pinto beans (drained but not rinsed)
  • Optional veggie add-ins: bell pepper and/or celery (finely diced)

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 375F.

  2. 2

    Heat a large casserole pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and ground beef. Cook over medium-high heat for 5-8 minutes or until the ground beef is cooked through, using a spatula to break up the ground beef and stir frequently. Drain most of the grease off (you can use tongs and a paper towel to absorb the excess grease).

  3. 3

    Add the onion and minced garlic (if adding optional veggies, add them here too—see notes below), and sauté for 5 minutes, or until the onion starts to soften.

  4. 4

    Add the smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring to combine all the seasonings.

  5. 5

    Either transfer the ground beef mixture to your baking dish, or leave it in the pan if you're using a large oven-safe pan. Add the rest of the ingredients (apple cider vinegar through the beans). Stir well. REALLY well. Taste the mixture and adjust to taste with salt and/or sweetener, if needed.

  6. 6

    Bake in a preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the baked beans are heated through and bubbly. The longer you bake, the thicker the sauce will be. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.