Baked beans have always been a classic! But this homemade recipe combines rich flavor with wholesome ingredients for a dish that’s as mindful as it is delicious.
The first time I tried baked beans was at my friend’s house, and I literally loved them so much. I feel like I should try making them myself. Since I’ve had hormonal issues in the past due to unhealthy habits, I now try to be very mindful of what I eat.
Before making this recipe, I wondered why some people say canned beans aren’t as healthy as dried or freshly cooked beans. Curiously I did some homework and found out some absolutely crucial concerns about canned beans. Many contain high levels of sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure and heart problems.
Some cans also include preservatives, and the lining of certain cans may contain BPA—a chemical linked to potential hormonal disruptions and other health risks.
After learning this I then decided to make baked beans from scratch. Honestly, it took some extra time, but it was worth it to enjoy a delicious meal without any worry.
You know peace of mind!
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Ground meat
- Chopped onion
- Chopped bell pepper mix all red, green and yellow bell paper to give a rainbow of colors
- Mung beans and kidney beans (Alternatively Black Beans or Lima beans or mixed beans depends on your choice whatever type of beans you prefer)
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Dijon mustard
- Molasses or Honey
- Worcestershire sauce
- Vinegar
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Cinnamon
- Butter
- Soy sauce
- Salt
How to Make Baked Beans with Ground Beef:
Preheat the Oven set to 325°F (163°C). In the meantime, prepare the ingredients.
Place the beans in an oven-safe pot or Dutch oven. Pour in 10 – 13 cups of water.
Please be sure that the beans are fully submerged (this will prevent them from drying out during baking)
Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid or aluminum foil to hold moisture during baking.
Bake the Beans: Put the covered pot in the preheated oven and bake for approx 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
After the first hour has passed, check the beans. See if they are still submerged. If most of the water has evaporated. Carefully add some warm water to keep the beans covered.
Continue baking until the beans are tender but not mushy. Be sure that a little bit of water remains in the pot. Once done, remove the beans from the oven and set them aside.
Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a large skillet, heat 1 – 2 tablespoons of olive oil, plus with a small knob of butter over medium heat. Add finely chopped onions and sauté for about 1 minute (or until they turn translucent and fragrant.)
Add the ground meat to the pan, break it up with a spatula or wooden spoon and cook.
Stir from time to time, for about 15 – 20 minutes until the meat is fully browned and no pinkish remains.
Pour in 1 cup of water to deglaze the pan (so that the meat stays moist).
Add garlic powder and salt to taste, stir well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
Cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes to let the flavors blend.
Add Additional Ingredients. Remove the lid and stir in the following ingredients to create a flavorful sauce:
- Chopped bell peppers
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Dijon mustard
- Molasses or honey/maple syrup
- Worcestershire sauce
- Vinegar
- Black pepper
- Cinnamon
- Soy sauce
Mix everything properly!
Combine the Beans: Gently fold the baked beans into the meat mixture, stir well to combine, and be sure the beans are evenly coated in the flavorful sauce.
Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture cook for 15 – 20 minutes, meanwhile, stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Allow the flavors to meld together and cook until the dish reaches a slightly saucy consistency. Add a splash of water if it becomes too dry.
Once fully cooked, turn off the heat. Make sure it’s not completely dry; there should be a little liquid left.
Garnish the dish with freshly chopped cilantro.
Serve: Your delicious baked beans with ground beef are now ready to serve!
Enjoy this hearty, flavorful meal however you like—on its own, with your favorite sides, or even over spaghetti, just like in the pictures below.
Some of Our Favorites:
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 8 ounces ground meat
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 ½ cup chopped bell peppers mix of all red, green and yellow bell paper to give a sort of rainbow colors
- 28 ounces beans 14 ounces each of mung and kidney beans, or substitute with black, lima, or mixed beans of your choice.
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon molasses or honey
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (163°C).
- Prepare the Beans: Place the beans in an oven-safe pot and pour in 10 – 13 cups of water. Please make sure the beans are fully submerged. Then cover the pot with a lid or foil to hold moisture.
- Bake the Beans: Bake for approx 1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours. Check after the first hour. If the water has evaporated too much, add warm water to keep the beans submerged. Once the beans are tender and there’s a little water left, remove them from the oven and set them aside.
- Prepare the Meat Mixture: In a separate pan, heat olive oil and a small amount of butter over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté for about 1 minute. Then, add the ground meat and cook. In the meantime, stir occasionally, for 15–20 minutes, until it gets brown.
- Season and Simmer: Add 1 cup of water, garlic powder and salt to the meat and onions. Cover the pan with a lid and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Add Additional Ingredients: Remove the lid and add the following ingredients as per the measurements mentioned above:– Chopped bell peppers– Ketchup– Brown sugar– Dijon mustard– Molasses or honey/Maple syrup– Worcestershire sauce– Vinegar– Black pepper– Cinnamon– Soy sauceMix everything well.
- Combine the Beans: Add the baked beans to the meat mixture and stir well to combine.
- Cook to Perfection: Cook the mixture on low heat for 15–20 minutes. Meantime, stir occasionally. Be sure all the flavors meld together and the dish is slightly saucy.
- Finish and Garnish: Once everything is cooked and a little soup remains in the mixture, turn off the heat. Now garnish it with freshly chopped cilantro.
- Serve: Your delicious baked beans with ground meat are now ready to enjoy! Serve warm and savor every bite.
Notes
- Although there are some concerns with canned beans that I shared above, they remain a convenient option for many. So if you’d like to use them instead of dry beans, consider options e.g., low-sodium, BPA-free.
- If you soaked the beans overnight, reduce the water amount (use approximately 8 – 9 cups).
- The oven provides gentle heat, so the beans should cook evenly. Adjust water as needed to prevent dryness.
- You can also cook the beans in the slow cooker or pressure cooker.
- Use a mix of 2 – 3 types of beans to achieve the best flavor.
- Use a variety of colorful bell peppers to give baked beans the best attractive color.
- You can also eat it with spaghetti.
Tried this baked beans with ground beef recipe last night, and it was such a hit! So simple to make, but packed with flavor—definitely adding it to my regular rotation.
Loved it! It takes a bit of extra time to make since it’s from scratch, but it’s absolutely worth it.