Southern Baked Bean and Ground Beef Casserole
Southern Baked Bean and Ground Beef Casserole is another iconic Southern covered dish our family loves to share at family functions, Church Potlucks, picnics and even on some of the spring and summer Holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 8 slices Thick bacon may sub with turkey bacon or plant-based bacon
- 1 pound Lean ground beef may sub with plant-based meat
- 1 medium Yellow onion diced
- 1 Sweet red bell pepper chopped
- 1 Green bell pepper chopped
- 4 Jalapeño peppers membrane removed, seeded, and sliced
- 3 16-ounce Van Camp’s pork and beans may sub with vegan beans
- ½ cup Sweet barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup Ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Spicy brown mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon Light soy sauce
- ¼ cup Brown sugar
- Kosher salt to own taste
- Ground black pepper to own taste
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet or metal skillet on low to medium heat, add 8 slices of bacon cooking slowly to render off the fat, and make crispy. Careful not to burn the bacon. Line paper towels over a baking sheet, place a metal rack on top of the baking sheet, and drain the bacon when it’s done cooking. Chop the bacon when it has cooled.
- Meanwhile, place another large cast-iron or metal skillet on medium heat before adding 1 pound of lean ground beef, diced onion, diced red bell peppers, and sliced jalapeño peppers, cook ground beef till browned and all veggies are soft. Drain off excess oils if needed.
- In a large bowl combine the cooked ground beef mixture, crisp chopped bacon, VanCamp’s pork and beans, sweet barbecue sauce, spicy brown mustard, Worcestershire sauce, light soy sauce, brown sugar, kosher salt, and black pepper to own taste.
- Spray your favorite casserole dish with cooking spray and place the Southern Baked Bean and Ground Beef Casserole in a 350° F oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole slightly cool before serving at your next gathering.
Notes
- I would love to try a vegan version of this how can I make this recipe vegan-friendly? I'm glad you asked, you can actually use plant-based meat (Vegan Ground Beef) to replace the beef. You can also replace the bacon with plant-based bacon such as Sweet Earth Hickory & Sage Smoked Seitan Bacon, Lightlife Smart Bacon, Cool Foods Veggie Bacon, Tofurky Smoky Maple Bacon Marinated Tempeh, Upton Naturals Bacon Seitan. Be sure to purchase Vegan plan baked beans as the Vancamp's Pork and Beans do contain pork. Be sure to check all other ingredients to be sure they are vegan-friendly
- Can this recipe for Southern Baked Beans and Ground Beef Casserole be made in advance? Absolutely! You can make it in advance and refrigerate for up to 3 days safely. Do not store longer than 3 days.
- Can I freeze the Southern Baked Beans and Ground Beef Casserole? You sure can place the casserole contents in an air-tight freezer-friendly container and you can store in the freezer for up to three months safely.
- Can I use ground chicken or turkey to replace the beef in the recipe? Sure why not? The flavor will be much different but if you prefer ground chicken or turkey I am sure you will still enjoy this recipe.
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Can I use turkey bacon in place of the pork bacon? Absolutely if you enjoy turkey bacon by all means use it. The flavor will not be the same but I am sure you will enjoy the recipe.
Nutrition
Serving: 01Calories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 14gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 483mgPotassium: 358mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 550IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!