Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Looking for more easy recipes to take to a potluck or family gathering? Try our Cowboy Baked Beans, Southern Coleslaw, Southern Potato Salad, or Dill Pickle Pasta Salad.

These hamburger baked beans, also called baked beans with hamburger, are made with canned beans but still have that sweet and savory, homemade flavor everyone expects from a good BBQ side dish.

Ingredients for Hamburger Baked Beans

Ground beef (1 lb, 80/20): Brown it fully and drain the excess grease before adding anything else. Leftover grease makes the sauce oily and separates during the long bake.

Canned baked beans (4 cans, 12 oz each): Use your favorite brand. Bush’s Original is what I use most often. You can mix bean types if you want different textures in the finished dish.

Brown sugar (3/4 cup): This is what makes the sauce thick and caramelized after 75 minutes in the oven. If it tastes too sweet before baking, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to balance it out.

Ketchup (1/2 cup): The tomato base of the sauce. BBQ sauce works as a direct substitute and gives you a smokier result.

Worcestershire sauce (2 tablespoons): Adds savory depth. Do not skip it.

Yellow mustard (1 tablespoon): Balances the sweetness. Increase to 1.5 tablespoons for a tangier result.

Onion (1 large, chopped), garlic powder (1 tsp), salt (1 tsp), black pepper (1/4 tsp): The onion cooks with the beef and softens completely during the long bake.

How to make Baked Beans and Ground Beef

Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.

Step 2: In a skillet, cook ground beef and chopped onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain all excess grease thoroughly. This step matters more than it sounds, leftover fat does not absorb into the sauce during baking, it just pools at the surface.

Step 3: In a large bowl mix together the cooked beef and onions, baked beans, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until everything is evenly combined.

Step 4: Transfer to a greased 9×13 casserole dish and spread evenly.

Step 5: Bake uncovered at 350°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes until the beans are bubbling and the sauce has thickened and darkened around the edges. The uncovered bake is what concentrates the sauce and creates that slightly caramelized top. Do not cover it.

Storage and Reheating

Storage: Leftover baked beans keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through, or microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.
Freezing:  You can freeze this before or after baking. If freezing unbaked, assemble everything, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed, adding about 10 minutes to the bake time since it is starting cold.

What Can I Add or Change in This Baked Beans Recipe?

Bacon is the most popular addition. Cook it crispy first, crumble it, and stir into the mixture before baking. It adds a smoky depth that works really well with the sweet sauce. My family loves it this way.

BBQ sauce works in place of ketchup and gives you a smokier result. Use the same amount but taste before adding the brown sugar since most BBQ sauces are already sweet.

If the sauce tastes too sweet, reduce the brown sugar to 1/2 cup or add 1 to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before baking to balance it out without changing the flavor.

Bell peppers add color and texture. Chop and stir in with the beef and onions. They soften completely during the long bake.

Half ground beef and half ground pork gives you a richer flavor. Ground turkey works for a leaner version but the flavor is lighter.

Questions About Baked Beans and Hamburger

Can I make these baked beans with ground beef in a slow cooker or Crock pot?
Yes. To make baked beans with ground beef in a slow cooker or crockpot, first brown the ground beef and onion in a skillet, then drain the grease. Add the cooked meat and all other ingredients to your slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until heated through and bubbly.

Can I make baked beans with ground beef ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare the dish completely, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to serve, bake it in a preheated oven at 350°F until it’s hot and bubbly.

What’s the difference between ground beef and hamburger meat?
They’re basically the same thing. Ground beef is just the uncooked version of what a lot of people casually call hamburger meat. Some people use the terms interchangeably, and that’s totally fine. Either one will work great in this recipe.

How many does this recipe serve? This makes 8 cups of beans total, which feeds 8 people as a generous side dish. I would say smaller servings you could get at least 12 servings from it. For a larger crowd double the recipe and use two casserole dishes rather than one deeper pan.