In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside.

In the same pan, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat.

Add onions and garlic to the beef and sauté until softened (about 3–5 minutes).

Combine everything:

In a large baking dish or Dutch oven, add all the beans, ketchup, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, Worcestershire, and spices.

Stir in the cooked meat, onion/garlic mixture, and bacon.

Bake:

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15–30 minutes until bubbly and thickened to your liking.

For deeper flavor, bake at a lower temp (300°F) for 2–3 hours.

🍴 Tips & Variations:

Make it spicy: Add diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Add heat-smoked flavor: Use chipotle BBQ sauce or add a splash of liquid smoke.

Crockpot version: Combine everything and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.

Vegetarian version: Skip the meat and use vegetarian baked beans.