Cowboy beans are a whole meal in themselves! Ground beef and a mixture of hearty beans are baked in an easy tomato bbq sauce with bacon.
Both sweet and savory, these beans are absolutely delish
What are Cowboy Baked Beans?
These beans are hearty and delicious. Cowboy beans are filled with bacon, beans, beef, onions, and a handful of seasonings.
The sauce is a tangy mix of ketchup, bbq sauce, brown sugar, and cider vinegar.
Whether oven-baked or slow-cooked in a crockpot, everyone will be asking for this easy recipe! We love to serve them with tortillas or cornbread. Easy corn fritters taste great alongside, too! Add a tangy classic macaroni salad and a pitcher of homemade lemonade to finish off a terrific meal.
Ingredients and Variations
BEANS
We use a combination of kidney beans, pinto, and great northern beans. We also add an entire can of pork and beans! Feel free to add black beans, split peas, or even garbanzo beans for a boost of nutrition and texture!
MEAT
For this recipe, we like to use ground beef and bacon, but leftover steak, cubes of ham, or even slices of Polish sausage can be tossed in! It’s thick enough to be a stew!
VARIATIONS
Experiment by adding bell peppers, diced tomatoes, or jalapenos for a real cowboy kick!
Cowboy Beans vs. Baked Beans
These beans are different than a traditional baked beans recipe.
- This recipe has ground beef added for a heartier dish.
- It has a sauce but they’re much less “saucy” than traditional baked beans.
- The sauce has a bit more of a BBQ type flavor.
How to Make Cowboy Baked Beans
Cowboy baked beans are a hearty meal but that doesn’t mean they are hard to make! It’s simple!
- Cook half of the bacon until crisp. Cool and crumble.
- Cook beef and onion in some bacon grease.
- Combine everything in a casserole dish and top with uncooked bacon.
- Bake uncovered according to the recipe below.
For Crock Pots or Slow Cookers
- Cook bacon in a pan on medium heat.
- Remove all but 1 Tbsp. of bacon grease. Cook onion and beef until no longer pink.
- Combine all ingredients into the Crockpot.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or on low for 4 to 5 hours. Top with crumbled bacon and serve.
Leftovers
To refrigerate: keep tightly covered in the refrigerator 3-4 days.
To reheat: just give them a stir, pop them in the microwave and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
To freeze: ladle chilled beans into a zippered bag with the date on it. Lay flat in the freezer. When frozen, bags can be stacked vertically to save space. Frozen cowboy baked beans will keep their flavor for at least 3 months.
Perfect Potluck Casseroles
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole – so creamy & cheesy
- Funeral Potatoes – 5 star recipe
- Baked Jalapeño Mac & Cheese – ready in 40 minutes
- Cheesy Broccoli Casserole – a crowd favorite
- Sweet Potato Casserole – perfect for the holidays
Did you make these Cowboy Beans? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Cowboy Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon divided
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large onion diced
- 30 ounces canned red kidney beans 2 x 16 ounces cans, drained and rinsed
- 30 ounces pork and beans 2 x 16 ounces cans
- 15 ounces canned pinto beans 1 can, drained and rinsed
- 15 ounces canned great northern beans 1 can, drained and rinsed
Sauce
- 1 ⅓ cup tomato sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup barbecue sauce plus 2 tablespoons for topping
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Set half of the uncooked bacon aside for topping. Cook the remaining half of the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain all fat except 1 tablespoon. Crumble bacon.
- Add ground beef and onion to the same pan and cook over medium heat until no pink remains, drain any fat.
- Combine all ingredients in a 9x13 pan and mix well. Top with remaining uncooked bacon and brush bacon with remaining bbq sauce.
- Bake uncovered 45-50 minutes or until bacon is crisp.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Prepare recipe as above except cook all bacon until crisp. Set half of the crisp bacon aside for topping.
- Combine all remaining ingredients and place in a 6qt slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours or on low 4-5 hours.
- Top with reserved bacon before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Casserole, Party Food, Side Dish
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Everyone loved this recipe.