Hawaiian Beans - A Quick Weeknight Chili

It's 4:30, the kids are starting to whine: I'm hungry! You look around the kitchen and you've not only forgotten to thaw some meat, but you have no idea what to make.

You start flipping through fast supper ideas in your head.

YES. Hawaiian Beans. That's it.

I think every household has a few of these quick recipes stored away for last-minute suppers. So this is one of my easy meals - I usually have the ingredients on hand, it doesn't require a lot of prep and it's one of our family's favourites. If you've forgotten to thaw out the ground beef, you can cheat (as I sometimes do) and thaw it in the frying pan, and/or start it out in the microwave.

This recipe came from my blessed mother-in-law. For my wedding shower, she gave me this big binder which she'd filled with their family's (and especially my husband's) favourite  recipes. I use that binder a lot.

I like to serve this with a starch (usually potatoes or buns, or sometimes cornbread if I have time) and a simple side salad.

Hawaiian Beans

1 tbsp canola/olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 lb extra-lean ground beef
1 can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1 can brown beans
1 can tomato soup
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp prepared mustard


Preheat oven to 350º. Pull out a casserole dish and a frying pan. 

Heat oil in frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering, add onion and cook until soft. Add ground beef. Break up chunks and cook until just brown with a little pink remaining.

Meanwhile, add kidney beans, brown beans, tomato soup, pineapple, brown sugar, vinegar and mustard to the casserole dish and mix together. Add ground beef & onion and stir until combined.

Bake, uncovered, for 20 - 30 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve.