Cowboy Beans Recipe
A smoky, hearty bean dish with bacon, ground beef, and a sweet-savory sauce—perfect for barbecues and comfort food cravings.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 oz) can pork and beans
- 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside, leaving some bacon grease in the pan.
- Add the ground beef and diced onion to the skillet. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- In a large pot or slow cooker, combine the cooked beef mixture, crispy bacon, pork and beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans.
- Stir in barbecue sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer over low heat for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally. If using a slow cooker, cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Serve warm as a side dish or main meal.
Notes
For an extra smoky flavor, you can cook the Cowboy Beans in a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven over a grill or campfire.