Pour canned baked beans over raw ground beef, together with 3 ingredients, into slow cooker for a comforting supper that’s always a yes in my house
1. Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker if desired for easier cleanup. Add the raw ground beef to the bottom of the slow cooker and break it up slightly with a spoon.
2. Scatter the chopped onion over the beef. Pour the baked beans over the top, then add the barbecue sauce and yellow mustard.
3. Stir everything together well so the beef is evenly distributed through the beans and sauce.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours or on 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.
5. Taste and adjust if needed, then spoon into bowls and serve hot.
Variations & Tips
Add a little heat: Stir in a pinch of chili powder, a few dashes of hot sauce, or some diced jalapeño if your family likes a sweeter baked bean dish with a spicy edge.
Make it stretch farther: For a bigger batch, serve it over rice, baked potatoes, or even macaroni. This is one of those easy slow cooker meals that can feed more people without much extra effort.
Prep-ahead tip: Chop the onion the night before and measure the sauce and mustard in advance so you can dump everything into the slow cooker quickly in the morning before work.
Texture tip: If you prefer finer crumbles, break up the ground beef well during the first stir. If your mixture seems thinner than you like at the end, leave the lid slightly ajar for 15 to 20 minutes on HIGH to help it thicken.
Ingredient swap: You can use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter version, or try a smoky barbecue sauce for a deeper flavor. Pork and beans can also work, though the finished dish will be a bit less sweet and rich.
