Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Servings
Description
This hearty and flavorful baked beans recipe is made from scratch. Packed with tender beans, savory ground beef, bell peppers, and a tangy-sweet sauce. Free from the preservatives and sodium of canned beans, this dish is a wholesome and satisfying option, ideal for mindful eating.
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.
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