Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Comfort meets convenience in this hearty baked beans with ground beef recipe that busy families absolutely love! This dish transforms classic baked beans into a filling main course that’s ready in just 25 minutes. Your family will be asking for seconds of this protein-packed meal that tastes like it simmered all day.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 25 minutes, Serves: 6 people.

Nutrition Profile: Diabetes-Friendly, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Aging, Low-Sodium, Soy-Free, Heart-Healthy, High-Protein, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Calorie.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 346 Calories, 10g Fat, 41g Carbs, 23g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Extra-virgin olive oil: Just 1 tablespoon to get everything started. This adds a nice rich flavor and helps brown the beef perfectly.

Medium onion: One chopped onion gives you that sweet, savory base flavor. Yellow or white onions work great here!

Lean ground beef: You’ll need 1 pound of lean ground beef. This is what makes these beans a complete meal that’ll fill everyone up.

No-salt-added navy beans: Two 15-ounce cans, rinsed and drained. Navy beans are perfect because they hold their shape and soak up all those delicious flavors.

Water: 1 cup helps create that perfect saucy consistency. Don’t skip this – it helps everything come together beautifully.

Ketchup: ¾ cup gives you that classic sweet-tangy baked bean flavor. Use your favorite brand!

Molasses: ¼ cup adds that deep, rich sweetness that makes baked beans so special. You can find this in the baking aisle.

Dijon mustard: 1 teaspoon adds a subtle kick. Regular yellow mustard works too if that’s what you have.

Garlic powder: ½ teaspoon brings that savory depth. Fresh garlic works too – use 2 cloves minced.

Salt: Just ¼ teaspoon to bring all the flavors together.

Fresh chives: ¼ cup chopped for garnish. These add a pop of color and fresh flavor on top!

How to Make Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Step 1: Heat your olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and ground beef to the hot pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring and breaking up the beef with your wooden spoon. You’ll know it’s ready when the onion looks soft and the beef isn’t pink anymore.

Step 2: Add your rinsed beans, water, ketchup, molasses, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and salt to the pan. Stir everything together and bring it to a simmer. You’ll see little bubbles forming around the edges.

Step 3: Turn the heat down to medium and keep cooking for 5 to 8 minutes. Stir it every couple minutes so nothing sticks. The mixture should be bubbling nicely and getting a bit thicker. Sprinkle those fresh chives on top before serving!

Easy and Quick Baked Beans with Ground Beef Version

Want to make this even faster? You can use pre-cooked ground beef from the freezer! Just thaw 1 pound of cooked ground beef and add it with the beans in step 2. This cuts your cooking time down to just 10 minutes total. You can also use garlic salt instead of garlic powder and regular salt – just use ½ teaspoon total.

Serving Ideas

This hearty dish is a complete meal all by itself! Serve it with some warm cornbread or crusty dinner rolls for dipping. A simple green salad or steamed broccoli makes a nice fresh side. For a true comfort food experience, try it over baked sweet potatoes or with a side of creamy coleslaw.

Storage

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days in a covered container. To reheat, just warm it up in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through. You can also freeze portions for up to 3 months – just thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Substitutions

No ground beef? Try ground turkey or ground chicken instead! You can swap the navy beans for pinto beans or great northern beans. If you don’t have molasses, use brown sugar or maple syrup. Regular mustard works fine if you don’t have Dijon. No worries if you’re missing the chives – green onions or parsley taste great too!

Pro Tips

• Get the best browning: Don’t stir the beef too much at first – let it get a nice brown color for extra flavor.

• Perfect consistency: If it gets too thick, just add a splash more water. Too thin? Let it simmer a few extra minutes.

• Make it spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce with the other seasonings.

• Prep ahead: You can chop the onion and measure all your ingredients the night before to make dinner even quicker!

FAQs

Can I use dried beans instead of canned?

Sure! You’ll need to cook about 1½ cups of dried navy beans first though. Soak them overnight, then simmer for 1-2 hours until tender. It takes longer but tastes amazing! Canned beans are just so much quicker for busy weeknights.

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

You bet! Brown the beef and onion in a pan first, then transfer everything to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. The flavors get even better with the longer cooking time!

Is this recipe kid-friendly?

Absolutely! Kids love the sweet, mild flavors in this dish. If your little ones are picky, you can leave out the Dijon mustard or use just a tiny bit. The ground beef makes it feel like a fun twist on regular baked beans.

Can I double this recipe?

Sure thing! Just use a bigger pot and you might need to cook it a few extra minutes to get everything heated through. This recipe is perfect for meal prep or feeding a crowd at potlucks!

Final Thoughts

I hope your family loves this hearty baked beans with ground beef as much as mine does! It’s become our go-to dinner when we need something filling and delicious fast. Let me know how yours turns out – I love hearing about your cooking adventures!