Easy 30-Minute Barbecue Beef & Beans: The Ultimate Leftover Roast Recipe for Busy Weeknights
Are you staring at that leftover roast beef in your fridge, wondering how to give it a delicious second life? Look no further! Our Barbecue Beef and Beans recipe is the perfect solution. This incredibly quick and flavorful stovetop meal comes together in just 30 minutes, making it an ideal choice for those hectic weeknights when you need a satisfying dinner without all the fuss. Combining tender, diced leftover roast beef with a medley of canned beans in a rich, tangy, and slightly sweet barbecue sauce, this dish is a true crowd-pleaser that’s both economical and incredibly simple to prepare.
This hearty Barbecue Beef and Beans recipe is a fantastic way to utilize “planned leftovers,” minimizing food waste and maximizing flavor. It’s surprisingly versatile – if you need to feed a larger crowd, simply stretch the recipe further by adding some pasta directly to the pot about 10 minutes before serving. It’s a satisfying, comforting, and wonderfully simple dish that will quickly become a staple in your rotation.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Barbecue Beef & Beans Recipe
This isn’t just another way to use up leftovers; it’s a culinary transformation! Here’s why this Barbecue Beef and Beans recipe will become your new go-to:
- Lightning Fast: From prep to plate in just 30 minutes! Perfect for busy parents, students, or anyone short on time.
- Budget-Friendly: Repurposing leftover roast beef and inexpensive canned beans makes this a very economical meal.
- Incredible Flavor: A savory blend of tomato, salsa, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and chili powder creates a rich, smoky, and slightly sweet barbecue sauce that perfectly complements the beef and beans.
- Hearty & Filling: Loaded with protein from the beef and fiber from the beans, this dish will keep you satisfied.
- Versatile: Easily customizable with different beans, vegetables, or an added carb like pasta to feed more mouths.
- Kid-Friendly: The familiar, comforting flavors of barbecue are often a hit with children, especially when served with a side of cornbread or over rice.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses common pantry staples, so you likely have most of the ingredients on hand already.
The Magic of Planned Leftovers: Transforming Roast Beef
Leftover roast beef is a culinary treasure, offering endless possibilities beyond just sandwiches. This recipe showcases how a classic Sunday roast can be reborn into an entirely new and exciting meal. The key is to dice the cooked beef into bite-sized pieces, allowing it to meld beautifully with the robust barbecue sauce and hearty beans. Any type of cooked beef roast will work here – chuck roast, sirloin, round roast – as long as it’s tender and ready to be chopped.
The beauty of using already-cooked beef is that it significantly cuts down on your cooking time. Instead of spending hours simmering meat, you’re merely heating it through and allowing it to absorb the incredible flavors of the barbecue sauce. This strategy is fantastic for meal planning and reducing food waste, proving that “planned leftovers” can be just as exciting, if not more so, than the original dish!
Recipe
Barbecue Beef and Beans Using Leftover Roast
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Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- ½ cup thick salsa (mild or medium, depending on preference)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
- 1 pound leftover cooked beef roast, diced into ½-inch cubes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounces canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 15 ounces canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 12 ounces beef broth, or more as needed for desired consistency
Instructions
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Begin by preparing your fresh ingredients: Finely chop 1 onion and mince 2 cloves garlic. The finer you chop, the more smoothly they will blend into the sauce.
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Next, take your 1 pound leftover cooked beef roast and chop it into bite-sized pieces, roughly ½-inch cubes. This ensures it’s easy to eat and absorbs the flavors effectively.
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In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, combine the chopped onion, 8 ounces tomato sauce, ½ cup thick salsa, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1½ tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, black pepper to taste, the diced roast beef, 12 ounces beef broth, and the minced garlic. Stir everything together thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well combined and coated in the developing sauce.
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For the beans, carefully drain and rinse both the 15 ounces kidney beans and 15 ounces pinto beans. Rinsing helps to remove excess sodium and improves their texture. Add them to the pot with the other ingredients.
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Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low-medium and let it cook for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the flavors have melded, the sauce has slightly thickened, and the dish is heated through. Since the beef is already cooked, you’re mainly warming everything and allowing the flavors to marry. If the consistency becomes too thick for your liking, don’t hesitate to add a little extra beef broth during cooking until it reaches your desired texture. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed before serving.
Notes
Nutrition per serving
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Dive Deeper into the Ingredients
Each ingredient plays a crucial role in creating the rich and complex flavor profile of this Barbecue Beef and Beans dish:
- Leftover Cooked Beef Roast: This is the star of the show. Any tender, cooked beef roast will do. Dicing it into small pieces ensures that every bite has a perfect blend of meat and sauce.
- Onion and Garlic: The aromatic foundation. Finely chopped onion and minced garlic add depth and a savory base to the barbecue sauce.
- Tomato Sauce & Thick Salsa: These form the body of the sauce. Tomato sauce provides the classic tomato base, while thick salsa (choose your preferred spice level!) adds a wonderful medley of peppers, onions, and spices for extra complexity.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: A touch of acidity is essential for balancing the sweetness and richness of the barbecue sauce, giving it that characteristic tangy kick.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness that is key to authentic barbecue flavor and helps to round out the other bold ingredients.
- Chili Powder: Delivers a warm, earthy spice that is fundamental to the barbecue profile. Adjust the amount to control the heat.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This secret weapon adds an umami punch and a subtle tanginess, enhancing the overall savory notes of the dish.
- Kidney Beans & Pinto Beans: These hearty legumes contribute texture, fiber, and protein. Draining and rinsing them removes excess sodium and any canning liquid, ensuring a cleaner flavor. You can absolutely experiment with other canned beans like black beans or cannellini beans!
- Beef Broth: Provides the necessary liquid for the sauce, ensuring a luscious consistency and infusing more beefy flavor. Always keep extra on hand to adjust as needed.
Tips for Making the Best Barbecue Beef and Beans
While this recipe is incredibly straightforward, a few tips can help you achieve perfection:
- Don’t Overcook the Beef: Since your roast beef is already cooked, the goal here is simply to heat it through and allow it to absorb the sauce’s flavors. Long simmering isn’t necessary and could make the beef tough.
- Taste and Adjust: The beauty of a homemade sauce is that you can tailor it to your liking. Taste the sauce after simmering for about 15 minutes. Need more sweetness? Add a pinch more brown sugar. Crave more tang? A splash more apple cider vinegar or a squeeze of lime juice can work wonders. Want it spicier? A dash of hot sauce or an extra sprinkle of chili powder will do the trick.
- Consistency is Key: The amount of beef broth can be adjusted to your preference. If you like a thicker, stew-like consistency, use less broth or let it simmer a bit longer. For a looser, soupier dish, add more broth.
- Sauté Aromatics (Optional but Recommended): For an even deeper flavor, you can briefly sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic in a tablespoon of oil for 3-5 minutes before adding the other ingredients. This softens them and releases their flavors more intensely. However, for a 30-minute meal, skipping this step is perfectly fine as the long simmer will cook them adequately.
- High-Quality Salsa: The type of salsa you use will significantly impact the flavor. Choose a salsa you genuinely enjoy, as its flavor profile will shine through.
Delicious Variations and Customizations
This Barbecue Beef and Beans recipe is wonderfully adaptable. Feel free to get creative with these variations:
- Add More Vegetables: Stir in diced bell peppers (red, green, or yellow), corn, or even a handful of spinach during the last 10 minutes of cooking for added nutrients and color.
- Smoky Flavor Boost: If your roast beef isn’t smoky, add a few drops of liquid smoke or a teaspoon of smoked paprika to the sauce for an extra layer of barbecue authenticity.
- Spicier Kick: For those who love heat, include a finely diced jalapeño (remove seeds for less heat) or a pinch of cayenne pepper with the chili powder. A dash of your favorite hot sauce at the end also works.
- Sweetness Control: Adjust the brown sugar up or down based on your preference for a sweeter or more savory barbecue profile. Honey or maple syrup can also be used as alternatives.
- Bean Variety: While kidney and pinto beans are classic, don’t hesitate to use black beans, cannellini beans, or even a mixed bean blend.
- Cheesy Goodness: Stir in a handful of shredded cheddar cheese just before serving, or sprinkle some on top for a gooey, comforting touch.
Serving Suggestions: Making it a Complete Meal
This hearty Barbecue Beef and Beans dish is satisfying on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides to create a complete and comforting meal:
- With Pasta: As mentioned in the recipe notes, adding pasta directly to the pot is a fantastic way to stretch the dish and make it even more filling.
- Over Rice or Mashed Potatoes: Serve generous spoonfuls over fluffy white rice, brown rice, or creamy mashed potatoes to soak up all that delicious sauce.
- With Bread: A side of warm cornbread, crusty bread, or fluffy biscuits (like the one pictured!) is perfect for scooping up every last bit.
- Fresh Salad: A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette can provide a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the beef and beans.
- Toppings Galore: Offer a selection of toppings such as shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt, sliced green onions, or fresh cilantro.
- Baked Potatoes: Use the Barbecue Beef and Beans as a delicious, savory topping for baked potatoes or sweet potatoes for a hearty and customizable dinner.
Make Ahead & Storage Tips
This Barbecue Beef and Beans recipe is fantastic for meal prep and leftovers, as the flavors often deepen overnight.
- Refrigeration: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: This dish freezes beautifully! Once completely cooled, transfer it to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Gently reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. If it seems too thick, add a splash of beef broth or water to achieve the desired consistency. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.
Whether you’re looking for a clever way to use up leftover roast beef, a quick 30-minute meal for a busy weeknight, or a budget-friendly dish that feeds the whole family, this Barbecue Beef and Beans recipe ticks all the boxes. It’s robust, flavorful, and incredibly easy to adapt to your taste. So, gather your ingredients and get ready to enjoy a satisfying, homemade meal that proves leftovers can be truly extraordinary!
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