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Baked Bean Chili is an easy, 4 ingredient chili recipe that is sweet & spicy! Sweet baked beans, lean ground beef, tomato juice, and seasonings make this chili so quick and easy to make. Don’t forget the corn chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream!
For another baked bean recipe be sure and try my BBQ Baked Beans (With Canned Beans).
Baked Bean & Beef Chili Recipe
This baked bean chili recipe is a delicious twist to traditional chili and you only need 4 main ingredients + dry seasonings to make it! Canned baked beans add a sweet & smokey flavor to the chili that really sets it apart from other chili recipes.
Ground beef, tomato juice, chili seasoning, and baked beans are all you need to make this quick meal. The longest part is the simmer time, which is necessary to allow the flavors to blend together. It’s the perfect comfort food for any time of year but especially on those cold fall and winter nights.
The best part of this amazing chili are the toppings – a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and Fritos corn chips are my family’s favorites.
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Lean Ground Beef : I prefer using lean ground beef (93/7) so I don’t end up with a greasy chili. However, you will drain the excess grease after cooking the beef so any fat percentage of ground beef could be used if wanted.
- Tomato Juice : This is not the same thing as V8 juice or canned tomato sauce. This is labeled as ‘tomato juice’ and you will find it in the juice aisle alongside the other bottled fruit and vegetable juices. It’s the Campbell’s brand tomato juice (there could be a store brand that sells it, but I have only ever seen it from the Campbell’s brand).
- Original Baked Beans : Do not drain the baked beans! You want all the baked bean sauce inside the can. The cans needs are the large cans (28 oz each). You could also use 4 cans (15 oz each) if you can’t find the larger cans at your grocery store.
- Chili Seasoning Packet
- Garlic Powder, Cumin, Onion Powder : These are the additional dried seasonings for the chili to really maximize flavor. If you want some spice then go ahead and add some chili powder as well.
How To Make Chili With Canned Baked Beans & Ground Beef (Printable Recipe Card)
In a large soup pot or large cooking pot, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef until it’s no longer pink. Drain or soak up any excess grease from the pot.
Add in the remaining ingredients; tomato juice, baked beans, chili seasoning packet, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin. Stir together and bring it to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low, and let it simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes. If it starts splashing and spitting simply turn the heat down.
Serve with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and Fritos corn chips. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
Chili is best served with some toppings like sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese (or any variety of cheese), Fritos corn chips, tortilla chips, sliced jalapeno, sliced green onions, or even some avocado slices.
The must-have toppings are definitely sour cream, shredded cheee, and Fritos corn chips (we love the Scoops!).
Serve some Honey Cornbread Muffins, this Best Cornbread Recipe, or Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread on the side is also a really great choice. The warm cornbread with butter slathered on is the perfect, comfort food side dish to chili.
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I Make This Chili Spicy?
Yes! Use a packet of spicy chili seasoning. Add some chili powder or cayenne red pepper into the chili with the other dry seasonings. You can also add in a can of chopped jalapeños or diced green chilies. For topping options be sure and serve it with some shredded Pepper Jack cheese and sliced fresh jalapeños.
Why Is There No Added Salt?
The recipe does not call for added salt, however, if you feel like it needs it then go ahead and add some kosher salt in with the ground beef or at the very end after you taste the chili. If you are using a regular packet of chili seasoning (and not a reduced-sodium packet) then I find that there is plenty of salt but I know everyone has different tastes, so add some if necessary
Which Baked Beans Should I Use?
The recipe calls for Original Baked Beans but you can use any variety of canned baked beans from the store. There are spicy versions, sweeter brown sugar baked beans, hickory smoked baked beans, and probably lots of others to choose from as well. Make sure you are using the equivalent of what the recipe calls for – either two large cans or 4 smaller cans.
Can I Add Anything To The Recipe?
Yes, if you want some fresh onion then add a finely diced large onion in with the ground beef. It could be a yellow onion or white onion. You can also try adding a few cloves garlic to the ground beef once it’s done cooking. Only let it cook for about 30 seconds with the fresh garlic so you don’t burn the garlic. You can use fresh garlic that has been minced or pressed, use garlic paste, or chopped garlic from a jar. You can also add some brown sugar if you want more sweetness in your chili; start with 1-2 teaspoons and as more if needed. Adding 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder is another really great chili ingredient that adds a depth of flavor.
Can I Make This In The Slow Cooker?
To make this in the slow cooker, simply cook and crumble the ground beef and add it into the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and cover with the lid. Cook on LOW heat for about 5-6 hours. More or less depending on how hot your slow cooker gets.
More Chili Recipes You’ll Love
- Slow Cooker Creamy White Chicken Chili
- Ground Beef Queso Chili
- Taco Ranch Chicken Chili
- Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
- Taco Chili
- The Best Classic Chili
- Crockpot Chili
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Easy Quick Chili Recipe
Baked Bean Chili
Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 4 cups tomato juice (*see notes)
- 2 cans (28 oz each) original baked beans do not drain
- 1 packet chili seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- In a large soup pot, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef until it's no longer pink. Drain or soak up any excess grease from the pot.2 lbs lean ground beef
- Add the tomato juice, baked beans, chili seasoning packet, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin. Stir together and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and let simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes. * I prefer to let it simmer for 30 minutes. The chili will thicken nicely and the flavors will come together.4 cups tomato juice, 2 cans (28 oz each) original baked beans, 1 packet chili seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Serve with Fritos corn chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
I’d love to see it! You can share it with me on @togetherasfamilyblog and follow on Pinterest @together-as-family-blog-recipes or Facebook @togetherasfamilyblog for more!
IS THAT 28OZ. TOTAL BEANS OR TWO CANS OF 28OZ PLEASE REPLY TO EMAIL NOT COMPUTER SAVVY THANK YOU
I apologize that I forgot to clarify in the recipe. It is 2 cans (28 oz EACH) of original baked beans. I have fixed the recipe. Thank you!
Could this be made in an Instant Pot?
I am not good with converting things to the IP, so sorry I can’t help more but I don’t want to say something and then have it turn out horribly for you. You might want to google how to convert recipes to the instant pot and maybe that would be helpful.
Our family of 6 loves it (even the picky ones) and I’m even making it again tonight!
I made it with one 55oz can of bush’s baked beans, one 2 lb package of ground turkey, one lb package of Beyond “ground beef”, a can of low sodium V8 and about a third of the “Carol Shelby’s Chili Kit”. That kit comes with a little packet of masa that you mix with water in the end and it thickens it up.
I make a topping station so everyone can add what they want: diced onion, shredded cheese, sour cream, halved cherry tomatoes …..and of course a big piece of freshly made cornbread!
Sounds delicious! I love the idea of a topping station, I’ll have to use that next time I serve this dish.