Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Beef and Baked Beans
This Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Beef and Baked Beans recipe is an easy, hearty dinner made for busy weeknights. Ground beef, baked beans, onion, barbecue sauce, and yellow mustard come together in the slow cooker for a comforting sweet-and-savory meal with very little prep.
Everything cooks together until the beef is fully cooked and the beans are hot and thickened, making this a convenient family dinner when you want something filling without spending much time in the kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only 5 main ingredients
- Minimal preparation
- Made in the slow cooker
- Sweet and savory flavor
- Budget-friendly ingredients
- Easy to stretch for a larger family
- Great for busy weeknights
Ingredients
For this easy slow cooker dinner, you’ll need:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cans baked beans, 28 ounces each
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
How to Make Beef and Baked Beans in the Slow Cooker
Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker if desired.
Add the raw ground beef to the bottom and break it up slightly with a spoon. Scatter the chopped onion over the beef.
Pour the baked beans over the top, followed by the barbecue sauce and yellow mustard. Stir everything together so the beef is evenly distributed throughout the beans and sauce.
Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, stirring once or twice if convenient, until the beef is fully cooked and the mixture is hot and thickened.
Taste and adjust if needed, then spoon the beef and baked beans into bowls and serve hot.
What to Serve With Beef and Baked Beans
This hearty slow cooker meal pairs well with buttery toast, cornbread, or a simple green salad.
For a more filling dinner, serve it over baked potatoes or alongside coleslaw and steamed green beans.
You can also serve the mixture over rice or macaroni when you want to stretch the meal and feed more people.
Variations and Tips
Add Some Heat
For a little kick, add chili powder, hot sauce, or diced jalapeño. This works especially well with a sweet barbecue sauce.
Make It Stretch
Serve the beef and baked beans over rice, baked potatoes, or macaroni. These simple additions can turn the recipe into a larger family meal.
Prep Ahead
Chop the onion and measure the barbecue sauce and mustard the night before. In the morning, you can quickly add everything to the slow cooker.
Adjust the Texture
For finer beef crumbles, break up the ground beef well during the first stir. If the finished mixture is thinner than you’d like, leave the lid slightly ajar for 15 to 20 minutes on HIGH to help it thicken.
Try a Different Protein
Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef for a lighter variation. A smoky barbecue sauce can also add a deeper flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes. The recipe suggests ground turkey as a lighter alternative to ground beef.
What can I serve with baked beans and beef?
Cornbread, toast, green salad, coleslaw, steamed green beans, rice, and baked potatoes all work well.
How can I make this recipe feed more people?
Serve it over rice, baked potatoes, or macaroni to stretch the meal without adding much extra preparation.
Can I make this recipe spicy?
Yes. Add chili powder, hot sauce, or diced jalapeño for a spicy variation.
Final Thoughts
This Slow Cooker 5-Ingredient Beef and Baked Beans recipe is a practical comfort-food dinner that keeps things simple. With ground beef, hearty baked beans, barbecue sauce, onion, and mustard, you get a warm sweet-and-savory slow cooker meal that is easy to prepare and simple to customize.
It’s especially useful for busy weeknights when you want a filling homemade dinner without a complicated ingredient list.
