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Slow Cooker Baked Beans are chock-full of bacon and beef, sweetened with molasses and then simmered until thick and sweet.
If you’ve been reading this blog for long at all, you might notice that I very rarely name anything “the best.”
Best Baked Beans Ever
There are many foods that we love and that we make over and over, but for something to be labeled the best baked beans ever, I feel like it needs to be a “wow” food.
You might be thinking that these are just crockpot baked beans, how amazing can they be, right? Well, they are pretty darn amazing as it turns out.
Three different beans with ground beef and bacon are simmered and slowly cooked until thick and sweet. The flavors and textures in this recipe for baked beans are just perfect.
Slow Cooker Baked Beans
Our friend, Tony, brought these beans to a barbecue at our house two years ago and they blew me away.
These beans are so tasty, so full of meat, so sweet and hearty, I might have “accidentally” tucked a container of Tony’s leftovers deep into my fridge and then forgotten to give them to him at the end of the night.
Later, I asked him if he’d please send me the recipe. And lucky for all of us, he was happy to share it. I’m a believer in baked beans with meat now and I’m confident that you will be as well, just as soon as you taste them.
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
There’s something extra special about a simmering pot of baked beans when there is plenty of meat in the mix. Hearty enough to be a meal on their own, these baked beans with meat make for a spectacularly memorable side dish at any barbecue.
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:
- ground beef
- bacon
- bacon drippings
- kidney beans
- white beans
- Pork & Beans
- onion
- light brown sugar
- ketchup
- molasses
- yellow mustard
Kitchen Tip: I use this slow cooker to make this recipe.
Crockpot Baked Beans Recipe
- Drain all the beans, except for one can of Pork & Beans.
- Combine the ground beef, bacon, kidney beans, white beans, Pork & Beans, onions, brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, and yellow mustard in the crockpot.
- Stir to combine. Cook on HIGH for at least 4 hours or on LOW for 8 hours.
Slow Cookers and Crockpots
Slow cookers or crockpots are an appliance of which I have more than one. If you are an avid slow cooker user like I am, you might understand the need for more than one. So, let’s talk about my favorites:
First up is this 6-quart slow cooker that has a locking lid. These crockpots are fantastic for transporting foods. Mine has gone everywhere from church potlucks to barbecues, game nights to Thanksgiving dinner. However, fair warning, these slow cookers run crazy hot. Low is closer to a boil than a simmer, the warm setting actually simmers. So trust me when I say HIGH is high.
My everyday slow cooker is this 8-quart Crockpot. It’s my go-to appliance for cooking large roasts and big batches of chili. Fun fact: did you know that a full 4-quart cooker, actually cooks more slowly than a half-full 8-quart cooker?
For just cooking a few pounds of chicken to shred for enchiladas or other smaller recipes, this 3-quart version is perfect.
Thanksgiving has become a breeze since I have mastered how to hold all of the side dishes using these medium-sized round slow cookers.
If you aren’t a fan of the idea of keeping more than one slow cooker in the house, these CrockPockets are a game-changer when it comes to preparing and holding multiple dishes at the same time. They slide into a standard 6-quart crockpot, dividing it into two sections that are perfect for serving different side dishes or keeping taco fillings warm for parties.
We have made these slow-cooker baked beans so many times, I couldn’t possibly keep count. I’ve served them with Beer and Garlic Grilled Chicken, Memphis Style Dry Ribs, Garlic and Paprika Rubbed Steaks, and just about every other main dish you can imagine.
The beans are fantastic as a side dish, but honestly, I could happily just eat the beans on their own. This recipe really is outstanding and these truly are the BEST baked beans ever! Thanks again, Tony.
To make one of my all-time favorite meals, combine Sweet and Tangy Pulled Pork and Memphis Coleslaw with these beans for BBQ Sundaes!
{originally published 5/20/14 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/15/21}
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