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Smoky Baked Beans with Ground Beef, Onions & Peppers

Few side dishes are as comforting and crowd-pleasing as a bubbling pan of baked beans. This version takes classic baked beans and turns them into a hearty, almost meal-worthy dish by adding seasoned ground beef, sweet onions, colorful bell peppers, and a rich sweet-savory sauce. Everything is finished in the oven in a foil pan, allowing the flavors to mingle while the sauce thickens and develops a delicious smoky depth.

The result is tender beans surrounded by a glossy, flavorful sauce with caramelized edges, savory beef, and just enough sweetness to balance the smoky and tangy flavors.

Ingredients

2 cans (about 28 ounces each) baked beans
1 pound ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1–2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
4–6 slices cooked bacon, chopped (optional)
1 tablespoon oil, if needed for cooking the vegetables

Step-by-Step Method

1. Prepare the vegetables

Start by dicing the onion and bell peppers into small, fairly uniform pieces. Mince the garlic.

Keeping the vegetables relatively small is important because they will become part of the sauce rather than remaining large chunks. The combination of onion and peppers adds sweetness, freshness, and a little texture to the rich beans.

2. Brown the ground beef

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Cook for approximately 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and no longer pink.

If there is a large amount of excess grease in the pan, carefully drain some of it. Leaving a small amount behind is fine because it contributes flavor to the finished dish.