Satisfy your craving for hearty, flavorful beans with this recipe for Cowboy Beans. Packed with ground beef, bacon, onion, garlic, spices, and a hint of sweetness, this dish is a crowd-pleaser perfect for any occasion.
I am in love with these mouthwatering good cowboy beans. They are just that tasty. I made them again last night, and I thought hubby and I would have to play rock paper scissors for the last little spoonful in the pot. They are the ideal meal for busy families.
You can prepare them in one of three ways. Either on the stovetop in a Dutch oven and simmer them as long as you like, or start them on the stovetop or in a Dutch oven and finish baking in the oven, or transfer them to a crock pot and finish cooking them there. If you like the flavors and ease of this recipe, try cowboy casserole, crock pot chili, sloppy joes, or Texas chili.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Bacon: thick cut
- Ground beef: with some fat in it, like 85/15. Fat gives the beef flavor.
- Garlic: fresh, please
- Beans: like pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, great northern beans, or black beans
- Seasonings: chili powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper
- Mustard: prepared mustard (like the one for hotdogs)
- Barbecue sauce: your favorite brand will work
- Apple cider vinegar: adds a little tang.
How to Make Cowboy Beans
First, brown the bacon over medium heat in a large Dutch oven. Using a slotted spoon, move the browned bacon to a layer of paper towels to drain, leaving the bacon grease in the pot. Add the ground beef and cook until it is about halfway browned. Then, add the onions and cook until the onions are soft. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring. Drain the excess fat from the mixture.
Please note at this point, you can transfer everything to a crock pot, add the remaining ingredients, including the cooked bacon, and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. Or add the remaining ingredients, including the cooked bacon, to the pot and simmer for a couple of hours, stirring frequently, or place the pot in the oven for a little over an hour. Whichever way you wish to finish cooking the beans, season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Purchase good quality smoked nitrate-free bacon and get it crispy.
- Buy ground beef with a little bit of fat in it. The fat is what gives it flavor.
- Get the old-style pork and beans, not those ready to pour into the pot, and bake. I use Van Camp’s pork and beans.
- Drain any excess grease from the meats. No one wants a layer of grease on their cowboy beans.
- If you like a little bit of heat, add a couple of pinches of crushed red pepper, a little bit of siracha, or a 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Go slowly, taste it, and see if you need more.
Serving Suggestions
This dish is a hearty meal, but here are a few ideas.
- Cornbread
- Corn fritters
- Air fryer potato wedges
- Creamy coleslaw
- Southern potato salad
- Roasted corn
- Beer bread
- Corn muffins
- Johnny cakes
- Cowboy caviar
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or microwave at reduced power so the beans do not explode.
Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop over low heat or microwave at reduced power.
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Cowboy Beans
Ingredients
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon chopped
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can pork and beans do not drain
- 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans rinsed and drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can dark red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard the hotdog kind
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown the bacon over medium heat in a large Dutch oven. Using a slotted spoon move the browned bacon to a layer of paper towels to drain, leaving the bacon grease in the pot.
- Add the ground beef and cook until it is about halfway browned. Add the onions and cook until the onions are soft. Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute while stirring. Drain the excess fat from the mixture.
- Please note at this point you can transfer everything to a crock pot, add the remaining ingredients including the cooked bacon and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. Or add the remaining ingredients including the cooked bacon to the pot and simmer for 2 hours stirring frequently. Or place the pot in the oven at 350-degrees for 1 hour. Whichever way you wish to finish cooking the beans season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper before serving.
- Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Notes
- Purchase good quality smoked nitrate-free bacon and get it crispy.
- Buy ground beef with a little bit of fat in it. The fat is what gives it flavor.
- Get the old-style pork and beans, not the ones that are ready to pour into the pot, and bake. I use Van Camp’s pork and beans.
- Drain any excess grease from the meats. No one wants a layer of grease on their cowboy beans.
- If you like a little bit of heat, turn it up some by adding a couple pinches of crushed red pepper, a little bit of siracha, or a 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Go slowly, taste it, and see if you need more.
Nutrition
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Karl
We love beans. This dish looks so delicious and simple to prepare. I am going to try it. I will report back, soon!
StarTraci
This was a delicious hearty recipe. It will be perfect for all those BBQs coming up. I can’t wait to share it with my friends and family.
AJ
I am glad I came across this recipe! This was SO tasty and easy to make. Great for my hearty eaters and even my picky toddler liked it. Thanks for the sharing the recipe, Beth!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine. AJ!
Mary
I’ve never made Cowboy beans, but I have heard a lot about them. Your recipe sounds delicious. Great way to enjoy beans, and easy to make! I am going to try them next weekend. I will report what the family thinks!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Mary! Enjoy!
Susan M
These cowboy beans were absolutely delicious! It’s no wonder you and your hubby had to resort to rock-paper-scissors for the last spoonful. I love the versatility of this recipe – perfect for busy families with multiple cooking options. Thanks for so many flavorful recipes!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Susan!
Tammy L
This is a great recipe for the warm weather cookouts coming up! Love beans with my BBQs and breakfast picnics too!
Beth Pierce
I agree, Tammy!
Ree
I have always loved cowboy beans. This recipe is spot on. This is going on regular rotation ay my house. Thanks for sharing, Beth!
Willow
I never knew about draining the excess grease from the meats, but it makes such a difference in the final dish. Can’t wait to serve this again with some cornbread on the side!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Willow! Enjoy!
Jupiter
Great recipe! So tasty and easy to prepare! We will make this again and again!
Melody W
This is great for a warming supper by the fire. We enjoyed it with some cornbread. The pot was devoured. Next time I am going to double the recipe for leftovers.
Lily S
I have been wanting to make cowboy beans for a while now. I tried you recipe out and we all loved how moreish this is, I served ours with some nice thick crusty bread and I will definitely be making these again.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Lily!
Tricia E
So much flavor in these beans! And such a simple recipe! We loved it
Erica L
So yummy! I made this and everybody at our house loves it!
Ally Z
These beans are a staple at our house, they taste so good! Thanks for the easy recipe!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Ally!
Adalina
The Easy Cowboy Beans were a smash at our backyard BBQ! Such a hearty, flavorful dish that was super easy to prepare.
Sandy B
This was perfect dinner last night! So easy to make and so delicious!