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Hearty Cowboy Baked Beans with Ground Beef

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A smoky, savory baked beans dish with ground beef, perfect for BBQs or a comforting weeknight meal. This recipe balances sweet, tangy, and meaty flavors for a hearty and satisfying dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450 g) ground beef (80/20)
  • 2 cans (15 oz / 425 g each) Great Northern beans or Navy beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Optional: pinch of cayenne pepper
  • Optional: chopped green bell pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink and starting to brown, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine tomato sauce, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Stir until smooth.
  5. Drain and rinse the beans. Add them to the skillet with the beef mixture, then pour in the sauce. Stir gently to combine without mashing the beans.
  6. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
  7. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until the sauce bubbles and thickens. Tent with foil if the top dries out.
  8. Let the beans rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Drain excess fat from the browned beef to avoid greasy sauce. Rinse canned beans to reduce sodium and improve sauce texture. Use fresh spices for best flavor. Tent with foil if beans dry out during baking. Prepare beef and sauce mixture a day ahead for deeper flavor. Optional toppings include shredded cheddar cheese added in the last 10 minutes of baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked beans, cowboy beans, ground beef, BBQ side dish, comfort food, easy recipe, smoky baked beans

Find it online: https://juliamadeit.com/hearty-cowboy-baked-beans-with-ground-beef-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-bbq/