Baked Beans
These hearty Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon are made from scratch with dried navy beans, savory ground beef, crispy bacon, and a rich sweet-and-smoky homemade sauce, the perfect side dish for BBQs, potlucks, and family dinners.
If you love simple comfort food recipes, be sure to check out my Slow Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs and rich, homemade Beef Stroganoff next.
Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon
There’s nothing quite like a pot of baked beans with ground beef and bacon simmering away all day. This hearty slow cooker recipe is packed with smoky bacon, savory ground beef, tender navy beans, and a rich homemade sauce made with brown sugar, molasses, and ketchup. It’s the perfect side dish for backyard BBQs, potlucks, family dinners, or even a simple weeknight meal.
Unlike canned baked beans, this recipe starts with dried navy beans, giving you incredible flavor and texture while letting the slow cooker do almost all the work. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week, these homemade baked beans are always a hit.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Made completely from scratch with dried navy beans.
- Loaded with both ground beef and bacon for extra hearty flavor.
- Easy slow cooker recipe with very little hands-on time.
- Sweet, smoky, and savory homemade sauce.
- Perfect for BBQs, cookouts, holidays, and potlucks.
- Great for making ahead and reheats beautifully.
What Are Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon?
Traditional baked beans are slowly cooked until tender in a sweet, smoky sauce. This version takes things up a notch by adding ground beef and thick-cut bacon, turning a classic side dish into a filling meal.
The combination of brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, onions, and bacon creates deep, rich flavor while the ground beef makes every bite hearty enough to enjoy on its own.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Dried navy beans
- Ground beef
- Bacon
- Chicken broth
- Water
- Ketchup
- Brown sugar
- Molasses
- Worcestershire sauce
- Yellow onion
- Mustard powder
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
Optional:
- Cornstarch slurry for a thicker sauce
How to Soak Dried Navy Beans
Before cooking, the beans need to be soaked.
Overnight Soak
Cover the beans with 1 to 2 inches of water and soak overnight.
Quick Soak
Place beans in a pot and cover with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour before draining.
Both methods work well, but overnight soaking usually gives the most even results.
How to Make Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon
Find the full recipe card below for ingredient measurements and detailed instructions. If you prefer to bake these beans instead of using the slow cooker, you’ll find oven instructions in the Notes section.
Soak and drain the navy beans.
Brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain any excess grease, and transfer it to the slow cooker.
Stir together the chicken broth, water, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Add the soaked beans.
Sprinkle the diced onion over the beans.
Lay the bacon strips across the top.
Cover and cook on LOW for about 8 hours, or until the beans are tender.
Remove the bacon, chop it into bite-sized pieces, and stir it back into the beans.
If desired, stir in a cornstarch slurry and cook another 15–20 minutes until thickened.
Helpful Tips for the Best Baked Beans
Use Fresh Dried Beans
Older dried beans often take much longer to soften.
Brown the Beef First
Browning the ground beef before adding it to the slow cooker creates much better flavor and prevents greasy beans.
Don’t Skip the Bacon
As the bacon cooks, it slowly releases smoky flavor throughout the beans.
Avoid Adding Salt Early
Salt can slow the softening of dried beans, so wait until they’re fully cooked before adjusting seasoning.
Let Them Rest
These baked beans actually taste even better after sitting for 15–20 minutes before serving.
What to Serve with Baked Beans
These homemade baked beans pair perfectly with:
- Grilled burgers
- Hot dogs
- BBQ chicken
- Pulled pork sandwiches
- Smoked brisket
- Cornbread
- Coleslaw
- Potato salad
- Macaroni salad
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing
Freeze cooled baked beans in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat or microwave until hot. Add a splash of water or chicken broth if the sauce becomes too thick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Substitute about 6 to 7 cups of cooked navy beans and reduce the cooking time to 3–4 hours on LOW.
Absolutely! In fact, they taste even better the next day.
Cooking on LOW gives the beans the best texture. HIGH may cause uneven cooking.
No. You can omit it for traditional baked beans or substitute ground sausage for a different flavor.
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Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon
Ingredients
Method
- Rinse and sort the dried navy beans, removing any debris.
- Soak the beans using one of these methods:
- Overnight Method: Place the beans in a large bowl and cover with water by 1 to 2 inches. Soak for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Quick Soak Method: Place the beans in a large pot and cover with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour.
- Drain and rinse the soaked beans before using.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until no longer pink, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the browned ground beef to the slow cooker along with the chicken broth, water, ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir to combine.
- Add the drained navy beans.
- Sprinkle the diced onion evenly over the beans.
- Lay the bacon slices across the top.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or until the beans are tender.
- Remove the bacon, chop it into bite-sized pieces, and stir it back into the baked beans.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until smooth.
- Stir the slurry into the beans.
- Cover and cook for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
Notes
If you prefer, you can substitute ½ pound of salt pork for the bacon. It provides a similar rich, smoky flavor. Oven Instructions:
Prepare the recipe as directed, then transfer everything to a covered 4½-quart Dutch oven. Bake at 200°F for about 8 hours, or until the beans are tender. Cooking Time:
The suggested 8-hour cook time is an estimate. Depending on your slow cooker, the age of your beans, and your elevation, your beans may finish a little sooner or take longer. Older dried beans and higher elevations typically require extra cooking time, while fresher beans cook more quickly.
Storage
Allow the baked beans to cool completely before storing.- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooled baked beans in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.
Reheating
For best results, thaw frozen beans overnight in the refrigerator. Transfer them to a covered baking dish and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, if time allows. Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave, stirring occasionally until hot.If you’re searching for the best baked beans with ground beef and bacon, this easy slow cooker recipe checks every box. It’s rich, smoky, sweet, savory, and packed with hearty ingredients that make it much more than an ordinary side dish. Whether you’re hosting a summer BBQ, planning a holiday dinner, or simply craving homemade comfort food, these baked beans are guaranteed to disappear fast.
