• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
4 Sons 'R' Us

4 Sons 'R' Us

Fast fix, budget-friendly, family-style recipes made from scratch at home

  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Nutritional Disclaimer
    • Email Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
    • ALL Recipes
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Lunch
    • Main Dish
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    • St, Patrick’s Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Ingredients
    • Beef
    • Chicken & Poultry
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Vegetables
  • Popular
    • Air Fryer
    • Bread
    • Cakes & Pies
    • Casseroles
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Comfort Food
    • Copycat
    • Crock Pot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Kid Friendly
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Snacks & Dips
    • Soups, Stews & Chili
  • Family
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Child’s Play
    • D.I.Y.
    • Parties
    • Opinion
  • TQK  
4 Sons 'R' Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Nutritional Disclaimer
    • Email Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
    • ALL Recipes
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Lunch
    • Main Dish
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Halloween
    • St, Patrick’s Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Ingredients
    • Beef
    • Chicken & Poultry
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Vegetables
  • Popular
    • Air Fryer
    • Bread
    • Cakes & Pies
    • Casseroles
    • Cookies & Bars
    • Comfort Food
    • Copycat
    • Crock Pot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Kid Friendly
    • Salads & Dressings
    • Snacks & Dips
    • Soups, Stews & Chili
  • Family
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Child’s Play
    • D.I.Y.
    • Parties
    • Opinion
  • TQK  
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Recipe Index » Recipes » Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

Published by Meaghan on February 4, 2019 | last updated on February 11, 2022.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe

Crumbles of cooked beef, crisp bacon, and a baked bean base- it makes for an amazing chili. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! This Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili is so good, and a recipe you’re gonna want to add to your repertoire. 

Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

There’s nothing I love more than a good bowl full of chili when the temps start to drop. It always hits the spot. How can you go wrong? It’s the ultimate cold weather comfort food.

Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

A big bowl full of beans & beef in a seasoned, simmered tomato broth and of course topped with copious amounts of shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and some sorta crispy bits. It’s magical.

Naturally we have our standard versions of this dish, but once I started cooking for a living- my horizons broadened.

Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

Baked beans are pretty much every Southerner’s bread & butter. We all have our own recipes. They’re a staple at every cook out and barbecue. You could spit farther than you could go without finding multiple different versions of the same Summer side dish.

Despite all this, I’m one of those weirdos that still almost always serves my baked beans from a can. I mean, if it’s worked this long, why rock the boat? Right? I know I’m notorious for shaking things up, but this is one dish I do not have a tried and true recipe for.

Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

When my best friend kept touting her baked bean recipe, I was skeptical. When she brought a baked bean based chili to our cookout, I didn’t even know what to think. I mean beans are essential to any good chili recipe. They’re the basis for the magic that’s gonna happen. But baked beans? I just couldn’t picture it, or taste it.

Even using canned beans, there was always one element that had to be added. Bacon. Yes that’s right. Bacon is always right. Bacon unarguably makes everything better. So, we’ve got bacon & baked beans. A solid side dish on their own, but with the potential to be an amazing. Just given a little love and attention!

Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

This chili starts the same way any other traditional chili begins… with a bit of ground beef, cooked and crumbled in a stew pot. Except with this one, we’re going to add in bacon and diced white onion. That mixture is stirred, broken up, and stirred some more until it’s all cooked through. Drain the meat mixture of any fat.

Transfer the meat mixture to a large soup pot, then add in all the remaining seasonings & ingredients. Bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer, and stirring occasionally, simmer the chili for 2-3 hours. We prefer an really thick chili, but if you enjoy yours on the thinner side- add a bit of beef broth until the desired consistency is reached.

Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

There’s no more love that could’ve been given, than with this Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili. It’s like Grandma had a hand in game day grub. So good!

Ground Beef & Bacon Baked Bean Chili

A heart chili with a base of baked beans, this version is infused with crumbled ground beef, bacon, and an added bit of sweetness from maple syrup.
4.06 from 18 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Chili, Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 lb thick cut bacon, cooked crisp & crumbled
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • 1 small white onion, diced
  • 2 28 oz cans petite diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 28 oz cans pork and beans, undrained
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 2 1/2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • pinch cayenne pepper
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

  • Add the bacon, beef, and onion to a large skillet. Cook until everything's cooked through. Drain all of the fat. Transfer the meat mixture to a large pot.
  • Add the canned tomatoes & beans to the pot. Stir in the broth, along with all the seasonings, and syrup. 
  • Bring the chili to a boil. Stir, reducing the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 hours or until the mixture's thickened and all the flavors have combined.
Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @4sonsrus or tag #4sonsrus!

 

If you enjoyed this...

  • Garlic Ginger Green Beans
    Garlic Ginger Green Beans
  • Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Bacon
    Slow Cooker Baked Beans with Bacon
  • Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
« Previous Post
Chicken & Waffles Casserole
Next Post »
Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
4sonsrus about us graphic

Hi! I’m Meaghan

Welcome to my kitchen. Pull up a chair and get ready to dig into family friendly, easy recipes and meal ideas. I’m a self proclaimed, proud pickle snob and cheese lover. Aside from that, I’m also the mom to 4 busy boys, elementary school through college aged. My boys keep my husband and I busy, and boy, do they like to eat. A lot. Read more...

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Helpful comments include feedback on the post or changes you made.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Rebecca Smith says

    February 12, 2019 at 12:36 pm

    5 stars
    Best of both world this, chilli and pasta! My son loves chilli, my daughter loves pasta, it’s a sign! I have to make this this week now.

    Reply
  2. Patrick Saueressig says

    November 9, 2019 at 8:50 pm

    5 stars
    I added “hot” chorizo and ground pork, leaving the rest of it basically as written. All I can say is… Damn! This might be the best chili I’ve ever had. Bravo!

    Reply
    • 4sonsrus says

      November 10, 2019 at 2:10 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it, Patrick! I can totally see (taste) the chorizo in this, and I’ll bet it was awesome. I’m gonna have to whip up my own batch this week to give it a try!

      Reply
  3. Karen says

    May 30, 2021 at 6:22 pm

    Best chili I have ever had! Absolutely loved it. This will be in my recipe rotation forever!!

    Reply
    • 4sonsrus says

      May 30, 2021 at 8:03 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it, Karen! It’s a keeper for sure.

      Reply
  4. Emily says

    September 6, 2022 at 12:54 pm

    I’m confused… do you cook the bacon first before adding to the raw beef or do you cook the bacon in with the beef?

    Reply
    • 4sonsrus says

      September 6, 2022 at 2:33 pm

      The (uncooked) bacon slices get laid on top of the beef and bean mixture in the casserole dish. They cook while the casserole bakes.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to 4 Sons ‘R’ Us

Hi! I’m Meaghan. Welcome to my kitchen. Pull up a chair and get ready to dig into family friendly, easy recipes and meal ideas.

I’m a self proclaimed, proud pickle snob and cheese lover. Aside from that, I’m also the mom to 4 busy boys, elementary school through college aged. My boys keep my husband and I busy, and boy, do they like to eat. A lot.

Read More

Trending Recipes

a wooden spoon in a silver pan of buttered cafeteria noodles
grinder salad on meat and cheese stuffed toasted hoagie rolls
homemade boursin cheese served in a blue ramekin with crackers and pretzels on the side

Footer

SEEN ON

as seen on promo graphic

SEEN ON

as seen on promo graphic

Copyright 2022 • 4 Sons R Us • Privacy Policy

4 Sons 'R' UsLogo Header Menu
  • Homepage
  • About
  • Recipe Index
    • ALL Recipes
  • Course
  • Holidays
  • Ingredients
  • Popular
  • Family
  • TQK