My mother was a vegetarian. This created a clash between the rest of the family, who stood firmly in the carnivore category. Since my mom cooked dinner, most of our meals were vegetarian, with meat served once or twice a week. I walked in the door from school each day asking, “What kind of meat are we having tonight?” It was a forlorn hope. I thought bombarding her with questions about meat would create more meat-filled meals. Sadly, it didn’t. That’s why whenever we had a dinner with the extended family I scoped out the table for any meat dishes so I could be first in line to get them. One of my favorites was this Southern Style Baked Beans Recipe, brimming with hamburger meat. I copied this recipe when I was eight and stuck it in my mom’s recipe box as a hint. It didn’t work, but I kept it and now serve it to my family, who thinks they’re great.
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Southern Style Baked Beans Recipe
I changed this recipe a little as I grew older. It originally called for dry mustard powder. Let’s face it, how many of us have dry mustard powder in our pantry? Confession time: I do, but I didn’t want to dig through the spices. Instead, I substituted spicy Dijon mustard. I think it gives it a flavor punch. The original recipe also called for green pepper. My kids don’t like this, so I leave it out. If your family does like bell pepper, add one small diced green bell pepper.
Here’s what you need to make it
Hamburger
onion
brown sugar
vinegar
salt
ketchup
Dijon mustard
canned baked beans
Here’s how to prepare it
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2. In a medium non-stick skillet, brown ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned. Drain meat.
Step 3: In a dutch oven or3 quart ovenproof casserole dish, add baked beans, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, salt, and Dijon mustard. Stir until combined.
Step 4: Add ground beef mixture to the baked beans and stir. Place beans in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Printable Recipe
- 1 (28 ounces) can baked beans
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 1/2 to 2 lbs ground beef
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Step 2. In a medium non-stick skillet, brown ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned. Drain meat.
- Step 3: In a dutch oven or3 quart ovenproof casserole dish, add baked beans, brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, salt, and Dijon mustard. Stir until combined.
- Step 4: Add ground beef mixture to the baked beans and stir. Place beans in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Cooking Tips
*Need it to be gluten-free? Just read the label on the can of baked beans you use and make sure they’re gluten-free.
*This recipe is naturally dairy free.
*This recipe can be made vegan by omitting the hamburger meat or substituting an equal amount of veggie crumbles. You can find veggie crumbles in the freezer section of most grocery stores.
*If you really want to go all out, top the beans with 3 to 4 slices of bacon before baking. Everything goes better with bacon.
Slow Cooker Directions
If you’d prefer to make the dish in a slow cooker, prepare as instructed above. Place ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for four hours.
I’m sure these beans are popular all over the country, not just in the South! Have you tried Southern Style Baked Beans? What are they called in your area?
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I love baked beans! However, it is just me and my youngest child that likes beans. Oh well, we will have a feast when I make this following your southern style recipe. I might get the cookbook too. Southern cuisine is always guaranteed to be delicious!
It looks really good! Definitely a must-make!
I love this kind of baked beans. I could seriously just eat with chips for dinner.
Those are some yummy looking beans. I’d love to eat this up with some corn bread.
These look really good. Love that they’re southern too. I’m sure this is an amazing recipe, and I can’t wait to try it.
Mmmmm! I love southern style food. This baked beans recipe sounds perfect for a family dinner.
That does look really good. Almost a chili, but a lot sweeter!
i just had dinner, but i could have a ton of this right now. it looks so good.
Oh yum! We love baked beans but admittedly have only ever bought the kind in a can (I know!). I will need to try this out this summer!
These look delicious! I have ever made our own beans before like this! I have to give them a try. Perfect for a BBQ!
I’m a vegetarian and always have been (I hated meat as a kid). My kids are all carnivores and since I can’t taste test, I always wonder if I’m cooking their meat right, lol
These beans look like they would be so delicious. They would make the perfect side dish!
This reminds me of my childhood. We used to eat this all the time. It’s something I loved as a child, but have forgotten as an adult. Now I want to make it!
OHHHHH yes, yes, yes!!!!! This is like a super thick chili! I love your recipe – so simple and absolutely beautiful photos!
These beans look way too good! I have never had baked beans with hamburger meat but I would totally dig in if I could!
That sounds delicious! I have never thought of adding the ground beef to it. I’ll have to give it a try.
These sound like the real deal. They should go really well with our barbecue. Awesome recipe!
Now here’s a recipe that I can get behind! I’ve been thinking of revamping my personal recipe, which, is fairly plain, yet the family likes it. This looks amazing.
I make a recipe similar to this. If you ask me, nothing beats southern style baked beans. We know how to do it right down here!
Omg that looks soo good and like a great lunch. Saving this!
We are famous for our Boston Baked Beans around these parts, so I have never had southern style ones before. I will have to try these out 🙂