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smoked baked beans with ground beef and bacon in a cast iron skillet
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Smoked BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon and Ground Beef

This Smoked BBQ Baked Beans recipe is made with ground beef, bacon, BBQ sauce, and plenty of seasoning for the ultimate smoky flavor. You can use canned beans or make the dish homemade from scratch. This dish can be made with any smoker or pellet Traeger grill.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword smoked baked beans, smoked baked beans with bacon, smoked baked beans with ground beef, traeger smoked baked beans
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 435kcal
Author Brandi Crawford

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion I use white onion.
  • 2 garlic cloves Minced.
  • 2 28 oz cans baked beans I use vegetarian.
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder This amount will give the beans a kick. If you don't want a dose of spicy omit it or start with 1/2 teaspoon and continue to taste and build.
  • 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar or sweetener I typically use 3. See notes.

Instructions

  • Preheat smoker to 225 degrees.
  • I like to use a 12 inch cast iron skillet to make everything using one pan. You can use any pan or smoker safe dish.
  • Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and add the bacon, ground beef, and chopped onions. Cook until the bacon is crisp, the ground beef is no longer pink, and the onions are translucent and fragrant.
  • Drain any excess fat. Add in the garlic and stir.
  • Add in the beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, chili powder, and brown sugar or sweetener. Stir. Taste the mixture repeatedly to ensure the flavor meets your tastes. I don't add any salt because I feel the bacon adds enough. Taste and decide if you want to add salt or any other flavor.
  • Smoke for 2 to 3 hours until the beans are bubbly, the sauce has thickened, and the beans have an amazing smoky flavor.
  • Remove from the smoker and cool before serving.

Notes

Any bacon will work for this recipe including turkey.
You can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork or sausage, or omit it all completely if you wish.
When using canned beans, I don't completely drain the beans, but I do pour off the top layer of liquid that forms in the can.
I don't find chili powder spicy, but some people do! So if you don't want spicy beans omit the chili powder or start with a 1/2 teaspoon and continue to adjust to taste.
I like for a moderate taste of sweetness so I use 3 tablespoons of brown sugar or sweetener. If you want them to be really sweet use 1/4 cup.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 10g