I have been enjoying this party-size bean recipe for almost 20 years. My friend Doug Funk has given me the recipe more times than I can remember. I have written it on napkins at picnics, on the back of paper plates at community cookouts and on shreds of paper tablecloths from church functions. You’d think I would have memorized it after all those times having written it down.
But it wasn’t until I typed it directly into my smartphone in Reynosa, Mexico, during a mission trip community dinner that I actually held onto the recipe. So after all these years, I have the recipe to share with you. It’s a big batch and perfect for a party or cookout. Because these beans are slightly sweet, kids especially love them.
Doug’s Party Beans are perfect for your Labor Day celebration, too. Enjoy!
Doug’s Party Beans
1 lb. 93 percent lean ground beef
1 cup plain barbecue sauce of choice
½ cup dark brown sugar, medium packed
1 envelope onion soup and recipe mix
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
32 oz. canned baked beans without pork
16 oz. canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed
In a large skillet (12-cup capacity), brown ground beef until crumbly, about six minutes.
Add the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, baked beans with can juices and pinto beans. Stir well to mix.
Simmer on low heat until heated well and slightly bubbly along the edges. Serve, or continue to simmer on very low heat until ready to serve, up to 2 hours.
Makes 20 servings.
Each serving has about 151 calories, 2 grams fat (1 gram saturated), 13 milligrams cholesterol, 8 grams protein, 26 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams dietary fiber, 541 milligrams sodium.
Alicia Ross is the co-author of three cookbooks. Contact her c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106, email tellus@kitchenscoop.com, or visit http://kitchenscoop.com.
