Hearty Three-Bean Baked Beans a Winner

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 1 hour

12 servings (3/4 cup each)

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 5 bacon strips, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cans (16 ounces each) pork and beans, undrained
• 1 can (16 ounces) butter beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook and crumble beef with bacon and onion over medium heat until beef is no longer pink; drain.
• Stir in sugars, ketchup, barbecue sauce, molasses, mustard, chili powder and salt until blended. Stir in beans. Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake, covered, until beans reach desired thickness, about 1 hour. 
• Freeze option: Freeze cooled bean mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 269 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 708mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (21g sugars, 7g fiber), 13g protein.

Originally published as Three-Bean Baked Beans in Taste of Home August/September 1998