Name: Block Party Beans
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Ingredients: 2 1/2 pounds 85 percent lean ground beef; 1 onion , chopped fine; 4 garlic cloves , minced; 4 (15-ounce) cans beans , drained and rinsed (see note); 2 (28-ounce) cans tomato sauce; 1/2 cup barbecue sauce; 1/3 cup packed brown sugar; 1/4 cup cider vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; Salt and pepper; 12 ounces green beans , trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces; 1 (10-ounce) package frozen lima beans

Why This Recipe Works

We usually prefer to use dried beans, but in our recipe for Block Party Beans the difference between canned and dried beans was minimal, so we chose canned beans. For the sauce, we mixed tomato sauce with brown sugar (for its pleasing hint of molasses), bottled barbecue sauce (which added a smoky note), and red pepper flakes and cider vinegar for a bright finish. Tasters preferred the traditional choice of ground beef to any other meat combinations we tried.

Before You Begin

For a festive presentation worthy of its name, we recommend using beans of varying shapes and colors, such as kidney beans, navy beans, black beans, and pinto beans. Serve with hot sauce.

Instructions

MAKE SAUCE Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook beef in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Drain beef in colander, then return to pot. Stir in onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, sugar, vinegar, pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper and bring to boil.

BAKE Transfer pot to oven and cook, covered, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in green beans and lima beans and continue to cook, covered, until green beans are tender, about 30 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve. (Beans can be refrigerated in airtight container for 3 days or frozen for 1 month.)