Sweet, smoky, and loaded with bacon and beef, these Southern baked beans are the kind of side dish that quietly steals the show. They’re sticky, rich, and ridiculously easy to make, just brown the meat, stir everything together, and let it simmer. Perfect for cookouts, weeknights, or anytime you need a no-fuss crowd-pleaser.

A spoon full of baked beans with hamburger.

Southern Baked Beans with Hamburger

Sweet, smoky, sticky, and just a little meaty. These Southern baked beans aren’t your basic “open a can and call it done” side dish. Nope. We’re talking bacon, beef, molasses, and barbecue sauce all simmered together until your kitchen smells fantastic.

And here’s the best part? My sister and I have been making these since we were old enough to stir a skillet without burning ourselves. We didn’t start with a recipe, just a few pantry staples and Mom’s go-to instruction: “You two handle the beans.” And so we did.

Featured reader review

“Funny enough this Southern woman serves this for a meal, complimented with creamy cold slaw and cornbread. I make it just like you do except I add some chopped green pepper with the onions. My 16 yearold grandson calls this dog food and probably would love to eat the whole pan! It’s a quick meal that tastes great.”
Nancy

Add your review

Why You’ll Keep Coming Back to Baked Beans with Ground Beef

Sweet + smoky + meaty: You’ve got bacon, ground beef, brown sugar, and molasses in the mix.
Simple: Brown the meat. Dump and simmer. That’s the whole deal.
Cookout gold: Serve it with spiral cut hot dogs, smash burgers, or grilled tequila chicken. It all works.

What Makes These Homemade Baked Beans Different?

The bacon, yes. The molasses, sure. But the ground beef? That’s the kicker. It turns an ordinary can of pork and beans into something rich and hearty, something that actually holds its own on a cookout plate loaded with grilled meat and potato salad.

Some folks call them Cowboy Baked Beans. I get it. But I didn’t grow up around cowboys. These were just the beans we always made. Whether it was a weeknight dinner with baked ham and Southern-style pea salad, or a big family BBQ with pulled pork, this dish showed up. Every time.

Are These Beans a Side or a Meal?

Technically, you could eat them like chili. They’ve got the meat, the beans, the flavor. But they’re definitely on the sweet side, so I don’t usually serve them as a stand-alone dinner. They shine best when paired with something smoky or salty—think grilled bratwurst, barbecue ribs, or a buttery ear of corn.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Check the recipe card below for a full list and amounts.

Ingredients for baked beans. — Gather the ingredients.

And if you’re pulling together a whole cookout spread, don’t forget the creamiest mac and cheese.

Step 1: Cook the beef and onions.

Hamburger, onions and bacon in a skillet. — Add hamburger, onions and bacon to a skillet.

Hamburger browned in a skillet. — Cook until the hamburger is browned.

Step 2: Add the rest of the ingredients.

The sauce ingredients added to browned hamburger. — Add brown sugar, molasses and seasoning.

Step 3: Cook and serve the beans.

Add the beans and simmer the beans until the sauce has thickened a little. Add salt and pepper, and serve while hot.

A skillet of baked beans with ground beef with a serving spoon.

While I make baked beans with bacon in a skillet, you may need to use a Dutch oven if you’re skillet isn’t large enough. If you’re going to serve them later, you can place them in a baking dish and warm them in the oven or in a slow coker set to low.

If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.