1-Preheat the oven and prepare the dish: Getting this baked beans ground beef casserole just right is all about following a few simple steps, and you’ll have a delicious meal in no time. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 2-quart casserole dish to avoid any sticking later. This prep takes about 10 minutes, setting the stage for a total cooking time of around 45 minutes.

2-Cook the ground beef: First, cook the 1 pound of ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes, breaking it up as it browns until it’s no longer pink. This step builds the base flavor, and you can drain the excess fat if you want a leaner dish. Once done, set it aside for the next part.

3-Mix the casserole ingredients: Next, in a large bowl, combine the cooked ground beef with the ¼ cup dried minced onion flakes, 2 (15-ounce) cans of pork and beans, 6 tablespoons ketchup, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1¼ teaspoons salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Mix everything well to blend those flavors together before transferring the mixture into your greased casserole dish.

4-Add bacon and bake: Now, arrange the 5 slices of precooked bacon on top of the mixture for that extra smoky touch. Cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil and pop it in the oven to bake for about 45 minutes, until it’s thick and bubbly. For substitutions, ground turkey works great in place of beef, and if you use turkey bacon, partially cook it first to ensure it crisps up nicely.

5-Optional onion substitution and serving tips: If you’re using fresh chopped onion instead of dried flakes, cook it with the beef in the skillet for even flavor distribution. Once baked, let it cool a bit before serving it’s even better if you assemble it ahead and refrigerate, just add a few extra minutes if it’s cold going in. This baked bean and ground beef casserole recipe is ideal for easy family dinners, and for more ideas, check out this apple cranberry crisp for a fruity twist on comforting bakes.