Better Baked Beans

This side dish is hearty enough to to be a meal, sweet and full of protein.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: barbecue, bbq, potluck

Yield: 8 people

Author: Kathleen Finnegan

Materials

1 (3 pound) can pork and beans 48 ounces
1 pound bacon diced
1 medium onion diced
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon mustard prepared, not ground spices
½ cup dark molasses
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F, or use stovetop or crockpot.
Fry bacon in a dutch oven; set bacon aside and drain grease from pot.
Brown hamburger and onions in the same pot.
Add the bacon and beans to hamburger and onions.
Mix remaining ingredients (ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, molasses and Worcestershire sauce) and add to bean mixture in pot.
Bake covered at 350°F for 1 hour, or simmer on stovetop for 30 minutes, or bake in crockpot for 2-3 hours.
Serve with bread and salad.

Notes

Serves 8 as a main dish, 24 as a side.

If you are transporting this, be sure to secure the crockpot so that it doesn’t tip, and set it in a box in case any contents seep out as you round corners. And don’t forget a sturdy serving spoon!