Best of the West Bean Bake
Hearty, smoky, and irresistibly savory, the Best of the West Bean Bake is a comforting oven-baked dish that's packed with bold flavors. Featuring a medley of navy, kidney, and baked beans, this recipe combines crispy bacon, seasoned ground beef, and a rich sauce made from ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Infused with a hint of smoked paprika and garlic, every bite delivers a down-home Western charm. Topped with crumbled bacon—and optionally cheddar cheese—this easy-to-make bean bake is perfect as a crowd-pleasing main course or side dish at barbecues, potlucks, or family dinners. Ready in just over an hour, it's an all-in-one recipe bursting with protein, sweet and tangy flavor, and irresistible texture. A must-try for fans of classic comfort food!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 slices Bacon
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 1 Yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 15-oz can Canned navy beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15-oz can Canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 28-oz can Canned baked beans in sauce
- 0.5 cup Ketchup
- 0.25 cup Brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp Ground black pepper
- 0.25 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded (optional, for topping)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet, pat it dry with paper towels, and crumble it. Set aside.
In the same skillet, using the bacon drippings, add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 7–8 minutes. Add the minced garlic during the last minute of cooking, and stir until fragrant. Drain any excess grease.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the navy beans, kidney beans, and baked beans. Add the cooked beef and onion mixture.
Stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Mix until well incorporated.
Transfer the mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Sprinkle the crumbled bacon evenly over the top of the bean mixture. If desired, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top for an extra layer of flavor.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling and the edges are slightly caramelized.
Remove from the oven and let the bean bake rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Serve warm as a side dish or main course.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
514 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 19.1 g | 25% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.4 g | 37% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 59 mg | 20% | |
| Sodium | 1005 mg | 44% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 61.7 g | 22% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 9.6 g | 34% | |
| Total Sugars | 27.3 g | ||
| Protein | 26.6 g | 53% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 120 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 5.3 mg | 30% | |
| Potassium | 959 mg | 20% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
