Skip to main content

Burger Beans

Diced green bell pepper chopped garlic cloves ground beef baked beans yellow mustard ketchup and garlic powder in a bowl...
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero, Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Burger beans are the bulked-up rendition of a tried-and-true American classic that's sure to make you the belle of the barbecue. These have everything you look for in your favorite canned baked beans and then some: sticky, brown sugar goodness, smoky bits of bacon, big beefy flavor, vegetal sweetness from green bell pepper, and a touch of briny heat from the pickled jalapeño garnish, if you so choose. Thinly sliced fresh jalapeños would also be welcome here.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    15 minutes

  • Yield

    4–6 servings

Ingredients

1 7-oz. can sliced pickled jalapeños
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 medium green bell pepper, halved, ribs and seeds removed, cut into about ⅛" pieces
2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 28-oz. can baked beans (such as Bush’s Best Original)
3 Tbsp. ketchup
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. yellow mustard

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Drain one 7-oz. can sliced pickled jalapeños, reserving 1 Tbsp. brine. Set aside separately. Heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a medium skillet or Dutch oven over medium. Add 1 medium green bell pepper, halved, ribs and seeds removed, cut into about ⅛" pieces, and 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped; cook, stirring often, until fragrant and bell pepper is beginning to soften, 1–2 minutes.

    Step 2

    Add 1 lb. ground beef, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper; cook, stirring and breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until beginning to brown, 3–4 minutes. Add one 28-oz. can baked beans, 3 Tbsp. ketchup, 1 Tbsp. garlic powder, 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard, and reserved 1 Tbsp. pickled jalapeño brine; stir well to combine. Simmer beans, stirring occasionally, until bubbling and thickened, about 5 minutes.

    Step 3

    Transfer burger beans to a serving dish and top with reserved pickled jalapeños.

Read More
A can of pumpkin purée adds richness, body, and an autumnal hue to this speedy chili, letting the flavors of the spices, aromatics, and ground beef shine.
The heat of pickled chiles brings a welcome zing that integrates well with the salty elements of puttanesca and acts like a counterweight to rich pork chops.
Rich and funky black bean garlic sauce, a pantry favorite in Chinese cuisine, provides depth and flavor to this weeknight riff on ragù Bolognese.
A game-day hero featuring focaccia slathered with Calabrian chili aioli, piled high with cooked steak, melted cheese, peppers, and onions.
A punchy, spicy peanut vinaigrette transforms a simply grilled steak into a showstopping main.
A luxuriously creamy and bright dressing made with aquafaba, miso, and crunchy poppy seeds makes a star out of summer produce.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
A kiss of heat makes an otherwise lovable dip simply irresistible.