Baked Bean Casserole (aka Calico Beans or Cowboy Beans) is the crowd-pleasing star of the table at any backyard BBQ, potluck or family gathering. My baked beans with hamburger and bacon recipe is a simple and delicious meal or side dish.
This casserole has lots of different names. You may have heard it called Baked Bean Casserole, Cowboy Baked Beans or even Calico Beans, depending on where you live. It is hands-down the best baked beans with hamburger recipe that I have ever eaten.
You and your family will love the smoky flavor of bacon and barbecue sauce blending beautifully with the tang of stone ground mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Caramelly dark brown sugar adds that undertone of sweetness that rounds everything out to a beautiful blend of scrumptious flavors.
My Baked Bean Casserole (Calico Beans) recipe is so easy to put together. 15 to 20 minutes of your time and then you’ll leave the rest to the oven. I love simple-to-make suppers like this one.
Possible Variations
I love cooking with beans! They’re a versatile, filling and an inexpensive way of getting protein into the diet. They take on flavors so easily and can add texture and color to everything from salads to casseroles and soups. Check out this delish slow cooker bean and bacon soup as another awesome example or my delicious bean salad.
Baked Bean Casserole (Cowboy Beans) is another versatile and hearty option. And the recipe is easily adapted with ingredients you have on hand.
For Baked Bean Casserole I mix and match the beans to whatever is in the pantry at the time. My favorites are black beans, red beans, cannellini, or great northern beans.
I’ve also used garbanzo beans (chickpeas) or pork and beans. Kidney beans, butter beans and even pinto beans would also be good options. Baked Beans with Hamburger are stupendously delicious, no matter which beans you choose.
FAQs
You could also make this yummy baked beans casserole without the ground beef or bacon and serve it as a tasty side dish or a vegan main.
To make the Baked Bean Casserole completely vegan, use your favorite vegan ground beef and bacon substitutes or omit the bacon and ground beef altogether.
Also, be sure to sub extra soy sauce (or even a small amount of miso paste) to replace the Worcestershire. Then this Calico Beans (Cowboy Beans) recipe can be a scrumptious vegan main, too.
Whatever creative spin you decide to put on it, my Baked Bean Casserole will become one of your favorite easy-to-make suppers! Enjoy!
The Ingredients
- Ground Beef: I use an 85/15 blend. Lean is good, but you need a little fat for the best flavor.
- The Aromatics: Begin building layers of savory flavor with standard aromatic vegetables and herbs — onion, bell peppers and garlic.
- Beans: I have used many varieties successfully in Baked Bean Casserole (Cowboy Beans). I typically mix and match from what’s in my pantry. You can use black beans, red beans, cannellini beans, Great Northern, chickpeas, pinto beans or even pork & beans.
- Sauces and Flavorings: Ketchup, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, stone ground mustard and soy sauce.
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Bacon: The smoky, savory finish to this comfort food supper. I use thick-cut bacon, but your usual brand should work beautifully in baked beans with hamburger.
What to Serve with Baked Beans with Hamburger
How to Make Baked Bean Casserole (Baked Cowboy Beans)
- Cook the bacon. I bake mine in the oven, but use your preferred method. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Mince the onions, garlic and bell peppers.
- Brown the ground beef, onions, peppers and garlic in a very large pan or a stock pot while the bacon cooks.
Continue cooking until the beef is cooked through (no pink remains).
Drain the beef mixture and add it back to the pan.
Add the beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar to the mixture. Simmer it all together for 5 minutes. Pour it into your prepared casserole dish.
Sprinkle the cooked and drained bacon pieces over the top of the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake the Calico Beans for 40–45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let dish sit for 10 minutes before serving
The Recipe
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Best Baked Bean Casserole (Baked Beans with Hamburger)
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Best Baked Bean Casserole (Baked Beans with Hamburger), aka Cowboy Beans or Calico Beans, takes the ultimate baked beans and makes them a full meal by adding ground beef and bacon! Comfort food heaven! Such an easy and satisfying recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. ground beef (I use 85/15)
- 1 lg. red onion, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, minced
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 (15-oz cans) beans, rinsed and drained (Mix and match what you have. Black beans, red beans, cannellini, Great Northern, chickpeas, or pork & beans all work well.)
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 Tablespoons stone ground mustard
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 8 slices bacon, cooked, drained and broken into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
- Cook the bacon. I bake mine in the oven, but use your preferred method. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Mince the onions, garlic and bell peppers.
- Brown the ground beef, onions, peppers and garlic in a very large pan or a stock pot while the bacon cooks.
- Continue cooking until the beef is cooked through (no pink remains). Drain the beef mixture and add it back to the pan.
- Add the beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and brown sugar to the mixture. Simmer it all together for 5 minutes. Pour the baked beans with hamburger mixture into your prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the cooked and drained bacon pieces over the top of the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let dish sit for 10 minutes before serving your baked beans with hamburger (Baked Bean Casserole).
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
Just like Mom used to make. I lost my recipe for this and so glad I found yours – it’s a keeper!!
Mae, that gives me so much joy! I’m glad the lost is found. Enjoy the recipe!
Some people make this with hamburger, and some with bacon, but I really love your version with both. So good!
Thanks Pam! The smokiness of the bacon really does add to the flavor and makes the dish that much more satisfying.
My go-to recipe for potlucks and neighborhood BBQs. So easy and so delicious!
Ours too, Sharon. I’m so glad the recipe is serving you well and you get a great response from sharing it.
Delicious! My whole family loved it. Thanks for really great recipes!
Thank you Elaine! And you’re very welcome.
This was an easy to follow recipe with great results. Will definitely make it again!
So glad to hear it, Olivia! I appreciate you stopping by to let me know.
My husband really loved this recipe and I can’t wait to share it with my friends!
I’m so glad, Kia!
This was so good!
Thank you, Sage!
These beans have it all going on!
Thanks, Laura! So glad you are enjoying the recipe.