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Smoked Bourbon Baked Beans with Ground Beef

smoked bourbon baked beans with ground beef - featured image
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A hearty and smoky baked beans recipe featuring ground beef and a subtle warmth from bourbon, perfect for comfort food cravings and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 4 strips smoked bacon, chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 cups (about 600g) cooked navy beans or great northern beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) bourbon whiskey
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) water or beef broth

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the bacon fat and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Increase heat to medium-high and add ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart with your spoon, cooking until no longer pink and starting to caramelize, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  5. Pour in the bourbon carefully and stir, scraping up browned bits from the skillet. Let it simmer until reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
  6. In a large bowl, mix the cooked bacon, beans, tomato paste, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt.
  7. Stir the bourbon-infused beef and onions into the bean mixture. Add water or beef broth and mix well to combine.
  8. Pour the whole mixture into your oven-safe baking dish, spreading it evenly.
  9. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, stirring halfway through. The beans should be bubbly, thickened, and browned slightly on top.
  10. Let the beans sit for 5-10 minutes after baking to thicken further and allow flavors to settle.

Notes

Keep skillet hot but not smoking to avoid drying the meat too quickly. If beans seem too thick before baking, add a splash more broth. Don’t rush the bacon step as its fat adds key smoky richness. For more smokiness, add a few drops of liquid smoke with tomato paste. Stir halfway through baking to ensure even cooking and prevent drying on edges. Adjust salt carefully due to bacon and Worcestershire sauce saltiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: smoked bourbon baked beans, ground beef baked beans, comfort food, easy baked beans recipe, bourbon recipe, smoky baked beans, hearty dinner

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/smoked-bourbon-baked-beans-with-ground-beef-easy-homemade-recipe/