These baked beans are loaded with bacon, ground beef, and brown sugar to make the perfect addition to your backyard BBQ or summer potluck.
The History of “Mary Lou Baked Beans”
When my parents first got married, my mom wasn’t the best cook. When I was first learning to cook and feeling discouraged, my dad would tell me the story about the first time his father in law visited my parents after they got married. He says that they had lost so much weight my grandpa told my mom, “honey, you can’t live on love alone.”
That changed when my parents moved in next door to the most lovely woman, amazing cook, and my future godmother, Mary Lou. Mary Lou taught my mom everything she knows about cooking, and my mom passed those skills on to me. This recipe is one that has made an appearance at every backyard BBQ and summer potluck my family has hosted or attended since before I was born. The original recipe was Mary Lou’s, which she gave to my mom. We lovingly refer to this recipe in my family as “Mary Lou Beans.”
This is the only baked bean recipe you will ever need. They are quickly devoured everywhere they make an appearance.
How to Make “Mary Lou Beans”
You’ll need to start with 1 lb of cooked bacon and 1 lb of cooked ground beef. While the ground beef is browning on the stovetop, I usually cook my bacon in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. You could also cook your bacon on the stovetop, or on a cookie sheet in the oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Pour two (1 lb) cans of beans into a 9×13 casserole dish. The original recipe calls for pork & beans, but most brands of pork & beans contain soy. I use Bush’s Homestyle Baked Beans.
Cut your bacon into 1 inch strips and add it to the beans in the casserole dish. Drain the grease from your browned ground beef and add it to your beans and bacon. Add 1/2 cup of chopped onion, 1 cup of dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, and 1 teaspoon (or more) of yellow mustard.
Mix to combine.
Bake at 350 degrees for two hours. Serve at your next backyard BBQ or summer potluck.
Little Cooks Corner
Little chefs of all ages can assist with this recipe by pouring ingredients into the casserole dish and mixing. Little helpers can also use a Montessori knife to cut up the cooked bacon. Learn more about cooking with toddlers here.
Feedback
What event will you be baking Mary Lou Beans for? Let me know in the comments!
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The Best Baked Beans Recipe – “Mary Lou Beans”
Description
These baked beans are loaded with bacon, ground beef, and brown sugar to make the perfect addition to your backyard BBQ or summer potluck.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour 2 (1 lb) cans of Bush’s Homestyle Baked Beans into a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Cut cooked bacon into 1 inch strips. Add to the beans.
- Add 1 lb of cooked ground beef, 1/2 cup chopped onions, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, and 1 teaspoon (or more if desired) yellow mustard to the bean and bacon mixture.
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 2 hours.
Notes
- If you have a soy intolerance or allergy in your home like we do, make sure to read the ingredients label on your Worcestershire Sauce. Some brands contain soy.
- While my ground beef browns on the stovetop, I usually cook my bacon in the air fryer at 350 for 10-12 minutes. You could also cook your bacon on the stovetop, or on a cookie sheet in the oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
- The original recipe called for 2 (1 lb) cans of Pork and Beans. However, I was unable to find a brand of Pork and Beans that did not contain soy. I use Bush’s Homestyle Beans for this reason.
- The original recipe calls for 1 tsp of yellow mustard. I don’t usually measure my mustard. I squeeze it over the top until the spirit tells me to stop. You can add more than 1 tsp if you prefer some extra tanginess like we do.
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