Name: barbecue flavor
Ingredients: This recipe uses a combination of pantry staples, fresh aromatics, and a flavorful sauce blend to build a rich, hearty dish.; 2 (28 oz) cans baked beans — Canned baked beans form the hearty base of this dish, already seasoned and ready to be doctored up with additional flavor.; 8 slices bacon, chopped — Crispy bacon adds smoky, salty flavor and a satisfying crunch throughout the dish.; 1 lb ground beef — Browned ground beef adds heartiness and savory depth, transforming this side dish into something substantial enough to nearly stand on its own.; 1 small onion, finely diced — Onion adds savory sweetness and depth, softening as it cooks alongside the ground beef.; 3 cloves garlic, minced — Garlic infuses the dish with a punch of savory, aromatic flavor.; 3/4 cup BBQ sauce — Your favorite BBQ sauce forms the backbone of the sauce, bringing smoky, tangy, sweet barbecue flavor.; 1/4 cup ketchup — Ketchup adds extra tomato depth and a touch of sweetness to round out the sauce.; 1/4 cup brown sugar — Brown sugar deepens the sauce’s sweetness with a rich, slightly molasses-like flavor.; 2 tbsp yellow mustard — Mustard adds tang and a bit of sharpness that helps cut through the richness of the bacon and beef.; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce — Worcestershire sauce contributes a deep, savory, umami-rich flavor that rounds out the overall sauce.; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar — A touch of vinegar adds brightness and tang, balancing the sweetness of the brown sugar and BBQ sauce.; 1 tsp smoked paprika — Smoked paprika reinforces the dish’s smoky flavor profile, complementing the crispy bacon beautifully.; 1 tsp chili powder — Chili powder adds warmth and a subtle depth of spice.; 1/2 tsp garlic powder — Garlic powder layers in additional savory flavor alongside the fresh garlic.; 1/2 tsp black pepper — Black pepper adds a subtle warmth that rounds out the seasoning.; 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste) — Salt enhances all the other flavors, though keep in mind that bacon, BBQ sauce, and canned beans already carry some saltiness, so taste and adjust as needed.

Ingredients

This recipe uses a combination of pantry staples, fresh aromatics, and a flavorful sauce blend to build a rich, hearty dish.

2 (28 oz) cans baked beans — Canned baked beans form the hearty base of this dish, already seasoned and ready to be doctored up with additional flavor.

8 slices bacon, chopped — Crispy bacon adds smoky, salty flavor and a satisfying crunch throughout the dish.

1 lb ground beef — Browned ground beef adds heartiness and savory depth, transforming this side dish into something substantial enough to nearly stand on its own.

1 small onion, finely diced — Onion adds savory sweetness and depth, softening as it cooks alongside the ground beef.

3 cloves garlic, minced — Garlic infuses the dish with a punch of savory, aromatic flavor.

3/4 cup BBQ sauce — Your favorite BBQ sauce forms the backbone of the sauce, bringing smoky, tangy, sweet barbecue flavor.

1/4 cup ketchup — Ketchup adds extra tomato depth and a touch of sweetness to round out the sauce.

1/4 cup brown sugar — Brown sugar deepens the sauce’s sweetness with a rich, slightly molasses-like flavor.

2 tbsp yellow mustard — Mustard adds tang and a bit of sharpness that helps cut through the richness of the bacon and beef.

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce — Worcestershire sauce contributes a deep, savory, umami-rich flavor that rounds out the overall sauce.

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar — A touch of vinegar adds brightness and tang, balancing the sweetness of the brown sugar and BBQ sauce.

1 tsp smoked paprika — Smoked paprika reinforces the dish’s smoky flavor profile, complementing the crispy bacon beautifully.

1 tsp chili powder — Chili powder adds warmth and a subtle depth of spice.

1/2 tsp garlic powder — Garlic powder layers in additional savory flavor alongside the fresh garlic.

1/2 tsp black pepper — Black pepper adds a subtle warmth that rounds out the seasoning.

1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste) — Salt enhances all the other flavors, though keep in mind that bacon, BBQ sauce, and canned beans already carry some saltiness, so taste and adjust as needed.

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

This recipe involves a bit of stovetop prep followed by a bake in the oven, resulting in a rich, hearty dish with real depth of flavor. Here’s exactly how to make it from start to finish.

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Getting the oven heating early means it’ll be ready to go by the time your beans are assembled.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Once done, remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set it aside, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet to use for browning the beef.

Step 3: Brown the Beef and Onion

Add the ground beef and diced onion to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease. Cook over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion has softened, breaking the meat into small crumbles as it cooks. Stir in the minced garlic during the final 30 seconds of cooking, just until fragrant.

Step 4: Drain Excess Grease

If there’s a significant amount of excess grease in the skillet after browning the beef, drain it off before proceeding, which helps keep the finished dish from becoming overly greasy.

Step 5: Combine the Sauce and Beans

In a large mixing bowl or directly in a baking dish, combine the canned baked beans, BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Stir everything together until well combined.

Step 6: Fold in the Beef and Bacon

Fold the cooked beef and onion mixture into the beans, along with most of the crispy bacon, reserving a small amount of bacon to use as a garnish before serving.

Step 7: Transfer to a Baking Dish

If you assembled everything in a mixing bowl rather than directly in your baking dish, transfer the entire mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it out into an even layer.

Step 8: Bake

Bake the beans uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes, stirring once about halfway through the baking time. You’re looking for the beans to become hot and bubbly, with the edges starting to caramelize slightly, which adds wonderful depth of flavor and texture.

Step 9: Garnish and Serve

Once baked, sprinkle the reserved crispy bacon over the top of the dish. Serve warm alongside grilled burgers, ribs, pulled pork, brisket, hot dogs, or smoked chicken.