Ingredients:

  • 8 oz bacon, diced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced into rounds
  • 4 cans (15 oz each) baked beans
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions:

  1. Place diced bacon in a cold skillet and bring to medium heat until crisp. Note: Starting cold renders the fat more efficiently
  2. Add the ground beef and sliced sausage to the skillet, cooking until the beef is browned and no longer pink. Wait for a deep brown sizzle to ensure maximum flavor.
  3. Stir in the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic for the last 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  4. Drain excess grease from the pan, leaving approximately one tablespoon for flavor. Note: Too much grease prevents the sauce from clinging to the beans
  5. Transfer the seared meat and vegetable mixture into the slow cooker.
  6. Add the baked beans, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and smoked paprika.
  7. Stir gently until the mixture is a uniform dark mahogany color.
  8. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 8 hours until the sauce has thickened and beans are tender.