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Hearty Baked Beans with Ground Beef and onions

Hearty Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Onions

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven or Baking Dish A sturdy cast-iron Dutch oven is ideal for oven baked beans, retaining heat and enhancing flavors. If unavailable, a deep ceramic baking dish covered tightly with foil is an excellent alternative.
  • Skillet Needed for browning beef and caramelizing onions. Non-stick or cast iron works best.
  • Wooden spoon Useful for stirring and combining ingredients without scratching cookware.

Ingredients
  

Beans

  • You can opt for either homemade baked beans from canned beans for convenience or make your baked beans recipe from scratch by soaking and cooking dried navy or great northern beans.

Ground Beef

  • Lean ground beef 85% lean is ideal to avoid excessive grease, providing substantial texture and rich flavor.

Onions

  • Yellow onions caramelize beautifully adding sweetness and depth.

Bacon

  • Smoked bacon enhances the dish with rich smoky flavors. Thick-cut bacon is recommended.

Brown Sugar

  • A balance of sweetness complements the smoky elements.

Molasses

  • Adds deep earthy sweetness and traditional southern flair.

Ketchup

  • Provides tanginess and a vibrant tomato base.

Mustard

  • Yellow mustard cuts through sweetness with a slight tang.

Apple Cider Vinegar

  • Adds acidity balancing flavors.

Garlic Powder and Smoked Paprika

  • Seasoning staples to elevate flavors subtly.

Salt and Pepper

  • Essential to taste.

Instructions
 

Preheat Oven

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Prepare Bacon and Onions

  1. Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove and chop into bite-sized pieces, reserving about 2 tablespoons of rendered bacon fat.
  2. In the same skillet, sauté onions over medium heat until soft and caramelized, about 8 minutes.

Brown Ground Beef

  1. Add ground beef to the onions, cooking until browned and crumbly. Drain any excess grease to keep the dish balanced.

Combine Beans and Meat Mixture

  1. In a Dutch oven or baking dish, combine the beans (homemade or canned beans, rinsed and drained), bacon, beef, onions, ketchup, molasses, mustard, brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to evenly distribute flavors.

Bake

  1. Cover with a lid or foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
  2. Remove cover and bake for an additional 15 minutes to thicken and caramelize the top.

Rest and Serve

  1. Allow beans to rest briefly (about 5 minutes), letting flavors meld before serving.