Description
Discover my easy baked beans with ground beef recipe—rich, savory, and perfect for dinner. Warm up with this comforting classic tonight!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (80 % lean)
- 2 cans (15 oz each) navy beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) tomato sauce
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the beef: Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium‑high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until it’s no longer pink, about 5‑7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed, then set the meat aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same pot, add the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil. Toss in the chopped onion and sauté for 3‑4 minutes until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Build the sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, beef broth, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, and cayenne (if using). Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Combine beans and beef: Return the browned ground beef to the pot, followed by the drained navy beans. Stir everything together so the beans are evenly coated with the sauce.
- Simmer low and slow: Cover the pot and let the beans simmer for 45‑60 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should thicken and the beans will become tender. If the mixture looks too dry, add a splash more broth or water.
- Finish and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Sprinkle chopped parsley over the top for a fresh pop of color. Serve hot with crusty bread, over rice, or alongside a simple green salad.
Notes
- Use low‑sodium broth: This gives you better control over the final salt level.
- Don’t rush the simmer: Allowing the beans to cook slowly melds the flavors and creates that classic baked‑bean richness.
- Upgrade the beef: For extra depth, brown the ground beef with a splash of Worcestershire sauce (optional, not chicken‑based).
- Thicken the sauce: If after an hour the sauce is still too thin, mash a few beans against the side of the pot and stir them in.
- Make ahead: This dish tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: baked beans with ground beef recipe