Description

This Skillet Baked Beans Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish combining smoky bacon, savory ground chuck, and tender pork and beans simmered in a tangy barbecue sauce mix, then baked to perfection. It’s a comforting casserole perfect for family dinners or potlucks, delivering a balance of sweet, savory, and smoky flavors in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat & Protein

8 slices bacon (cut into ¼-inch slices)
1¼ pounds ground chuck

Vegetables

1 medium yellow onion (diced)
1 bell pepper (cored and diced)

Canned Goods & Sauces

48-52 ounces pork and beans (fat pieces discarded)
½ cup barbecue sauce
½ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons country mustard
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 tablespoons cider vinegar

Sweeteners & Seasonings

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare: Heat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking during baking.
Cook Bacon and Ground Chuck: In a large saucepan, cook the sliced bacon until soft and fully cooked. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Add the ground chuck to the same pan with the rendered bacon fat and cook until browned. Drain excess fat, reserving 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat. Set the cooked meat aside.
Sauté Vegetables and Combine Ingredients: Add diced onion and bell pepper to the reserved rendered fat in the pan and cook for about 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the pork and beans, barbecue sauce, ketchup, country mustard, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, and dark brown sugar. Mix well to combine. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then stir again.
Assemble Casserole: Pour the bean mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the cooked bacon over the top. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake Covered: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the mixture to heat through.
Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes until the casserole is thickened and bubbly.
Rest and Serve: Take the casserole out of the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes to set. Serve warm and enjoy your hearty Skillet Baked Beans Casserole!

Notes

Use country mustard for a mild tang; Dijon mustard can be substituted for more heat.
For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and ground chuck, and consider adding smoked smoked paprika to mimic smoky flavor.
Covering with foil during the initial bake helps keep moisture in, ensuring the casserole is tender.
Allowing it to rest before serving helps the casserole set and develop flavors.
Adjust sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar according to taste.