Best Baked Bean Casserole

This easy to make and tasty baked bean casserole is perfect for potlucks, picnics and any share a dish get together.

We actually like this so much that we usually keep a tub of it in the fridge all year long. We like to warm up a cup or bowl of this whenever we want a quick and easy meal.

For parties and potlucks, we just put it in a crockpot, set it on warm and by the end of the party it's all gone.

What You Will Need

* 3 big cans of baked beans

* 1 pound of bacon

* 1 pound ground beef

* 1 pound hot breakfast sausage

* 1 big onion diced

* 1 two pound bag of brown sugar

* Salt, pepper & garlic powder to taste

* 2 Tablespoons of yellow mustard and 2 Tablespoons of BBQ sauce

A Whole Pound Of Bacon

Yes, really a whole pound of bacon!

I dice up the bacon before frying it, then drain the grease on a paper plate & set it aside.

Then I use the bacon grease to brown the rest of the meat.

Be sure to cook the bacon nice and crispy, wiggly bacon is yucky in these beans, crispy bacon softens up just right.

Brown The Meat

I like to brown the meat in some of the left over bacon grease, I think it adds a lot of flavor.

I brown and crumble 1 pound each of ground beef and hot breakfast sausage and add a little seasoned salt, garlic powder and lots of black pepper.

If you want spicier beans add some red pepper flakes or ground cayenne pepper.

Add The Onions

Once the meat is mostly cooked, add the diced onion.

You don't want to over cook the onions, just soften them up a bit. They will continue to cook and flavor the beans as they cook.

If you have picky eaters that won't eat onions, you can grate the onions. Grated onions add the flavor but disolve, si finicky eaters won't even know they're there.

Do This While The Meat Cooks

While the meat is cooking, get the beans ready.

You will need a big, 2-3 quart pot. I like to use Bush's beans and I like to use three different flavors to give the beans some bean variety.

You could actually add any kind of beans you want, depending on how adventurous your eaters are.

Add Some Flavor

While the meat is browning, I put the bean pot on the stove on medium heat and start adding ingredients.

First I stir in the bacon, mustard, BBQ sauce and spices.

We like our beans on the spicy side so I usually add both red pepper flakes and a dash of cayenne powder.

You can also add garlic powder, a pinch of ground cloves and oregano and thyme. Adding a little bit of cloves makes this dish complement a Ham dinner very nicely.

Perfect For Bringing A Dish To Share!

Really, A Whole Bag of Brown Sugar!

Okay, I know you're thinking...OMG! That's too much brown sugar!

If you use less, it really will not be even half as good!

Use the whole 2 pound bag at least once so you will know the difference.

The brown Sugar not only gives these beans they're incredible sweet and rich flavor, but it also adds the extra juice you need to balance out the meat.

Time to Add The Meat

By now the meat is cooked all the way through and it's time to add it to the beans.

I mix the meat in and then increase the heat to medium high until the beans come to a slow boil.

Then I reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least a half an hour. Then you can eat them right away or refrigerate them until you are ready to use them.

I got this for my Mom for Christmas & she just loves it!

Time To Eat!

We eat these beans as a meal all the time.

My husband and the boys like to add more yellow mustard and just squirt it right into their bowls. I like them just as is.

We bring a crockpot of this bean casserole to every party or family function and the crockpot is always empty before we go home.

These beans are great all year long and go with just about anything.