Crockpot beefy beans

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Crockpot beefy beans are the ultimate comfort food—hearty, savory, and incredibly easy to set and forget. Combining tender ground beef, savory bacon, and a rich, smoky-sweet bean mixture, this dish makes an amazing side for barbecues or a satisfying main meal all on its own.

Slow Cooker Beefy Baked Beans Recipe

This recipe yields about 8 to 10 generous servings and fills your kitchen with an incredible aroma as it simmers.

Ingredients

  • The Meat:
    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
  • The Beans:
    • 2 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
    • 2 cans (15 oz each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
    • 1 can (15 oz) pork and beans (do not drain)
  • The Sauce & Seasonings:
    • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
    • 1 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite brand)
    • ½ cup ketchup
    • ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
    • 2 tbsp yellow mustard
    • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • ½ tsp smoked paprika
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

1.Brown the bacon and beef:Builds deep, savory flavor.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the diced bacon until crisp, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the same skillet with the bacon drippings, add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onions are tender, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
2.Combine ingredients in the slow cooker:Distribute flavors evenly.

Transfer the cooked beef, onions, and crispy bacon into your slow cooker. Add the rinsed pinto beans, kidney beans, pork and beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Stir everything together thoroughly.
3.Cook low and slow:Low and slow lets the flavors meld.

Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours (or on HIGH for 2 to 3 hours). This allows the beans to absorb all the rich, sweet, and smoky sauce.
4.Adjust and serve:Thicken to your preference.

Remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking if the sauce is too thin, allowing excess moisture to evaporate. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed before serving warm.

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