Heather's BBQ Baked Beans

I've brought this variation of baked beans to many BBQ's, even has made an appearance at Easter dinner - its one of those recipes that people say 'oh would you bring those baked beans again please.' I always make them in the crock-pot, but have included instructions for oven too. Leftovers re-heat very well.

• Ready In: 4 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 lb ground beef
• 5  slices bacon, diced
• 1⁄2 medium onion, diced
• 1 (16 ounce) can baby butter beans, drained
• 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
• 1 (28 ounce) can  maple flavored  baked beans or 1 (28 ounce) can  maple flavored  pork and beans, undrained
• 1 (16 ounce) can  baked beans or 1 (16 ounce) can  pork and beans, undrained
• 1⁄3 cup brown sugar
• 1⁄4 cup Splenda granular or 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup ketchup
• 1⁄4 cup barbecue sauce (hickory or honey flavored)
• 2  tablespoons dark molasses
• 2  tablespoons mustard (I use honey mustard if I've got it)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon chili powder

Directions

1. Brown beef, onion and bacon over medium high heat.
2. Meanwhile, add all beans to crock-pot.
3. Add beef mixture to beans and stir.
4. Combine remaining ingredients with a whisk and stir into bean mixture.
5. Turn crock-pot to low for at least 4 hours - I have made them farther in advance, they'll get thicker as time goes on.
6. Oven directions: If you'd like to bake them in the oven, pour bean mixture into large dutch oven and bake at 350 for an hour.