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Cowboy Beans are a hearty side dish made with four types of beans, ground beef, bacon, sausage, and onions simmered in a sweet and tangy sauce.
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OMGosh this was amazing. I had no idea it made so much so I ate a bowl with crackers the first night and over a bed of rice the next time. The rest spent time in freezer bags for future meals. Waiting until I can get all 3 long legged grandsons together at once to make again. And I WILL make again.
What Are Cowboy Beans?
This popular dish is most likely named from the days when pioneers traveled long distances needing a easy, flavorful and a filling meal. More than likely, the term “cowboy beans” originated from cowboys describing this hearty meal that was economical and also loved.
What You’ll Love These Cowboy Beans
- Easy Recipe – Do not be intimidated with the long list of ingredients. There is only a 15-minute prep with amazing results. Make in the Crock pot or bake in the oven!
- Simple Ingredients – I love that this recipe uses canned beans and other ingredients that I always have on hand.
- Easy to alter to your preference – With the different variety of beans and meats, you can always leave one out of replace something without altering the flavor that much.
- Family Favorite – Cowboy beans are always such a huge hit with everyone. Kids and adults love it.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
This cowboy beans recipe is made with simple ingredients like spices, 3 types of meat, and 4 types of beans slow-cooked to perfection with a yummy BBQ sauce.
- Hamburger meat – You will need ground beef.
- Bacon- Chopped and make sure to save the grease.
- Smoked sausage link- Cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Pork and beans- Do not need to drain these beans.
- Other beans- You will need to drain Pinto, Kidney, and Great Northern Beans for the other 3 beans.
- Onion – Diced and sauteed.
- Ketchup – Adds a bit of sweetness to your recipe.
- Brown sugar – This will add sweetness and richness to this recipe.
- Molasses – This will add a mildly sweet taste.
- Chili powder – Adds a slightly spicy flavor.
- Salt and Pepper – This will bring out the flavors.
- Mustard – Provides a slightly tangy flavor.
- Shredded cheese – Added on top of the beans (optional).
How To Make Crock Pot Cowboy Beans
- Cook the ground beef and bacon in a skillet and add to the crock pot.
- In the same skillet, sautee the onions. Place the onions and grease in the crockpot, along with the beans.
- Mix the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, chili powder, salt, pepper, and mustard in a small bowl and pour into the slow cooker.
- Seal the lid and cook for 4 to 6 hours on low or 2 to 4 hours on high.
- Serve hot as we side dish or main meal.
How To Make Cowboy Beans in the Oven
- Proceed with crockpot directions. Add the ingredients into a dutch oven or 9×13 casserole dish.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1 ½ hours. Serve hot.
Serving Suggestions
We love to serve this as a side dish with recipes like homemade corn dogs, sloppy joes, BBQ beef sandwiches or BBQ chicken thighs.
This is the perfect recipe for cookouts and potlucks. Serve as a main dish with a side of biscuits of cornbread. A few other side dishes that compliment these cowboy beans are coleslaw, corn on the cobb, mac and cheese and macaroni salad.
Tips and Variations
- Storing – These beans stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. You can freeze for up 3 months. Store the beans in a large zip-lock bag (or in an airtight container). When ready to use, take out of the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator. Cook in a pan on the stove until heated through.
- Cutting the Bacon – I use kitchen scissors to cut the bacon into squares and this speeds up the process.
- Ground Beef – Feel free to use 90% lean ground beef, this will cut down on some calories without losing any flavor. Ground turkey or ground chicken can also be used.
- Beans – the variety of beans can be switched. Black beans or lima beans are a great option. Dry beans can also be used. Just prepare to add on additional time for prep.
- Add ins – feel free to add in any veggies like chopped green bell peppers, carrots or any other veggies you prefer.
More Baked Bean Recipes
Add as Google Trusted SourceCowboy Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound hamburger meat
- ½ pound bacon , chopped save the grease
- 1 pound smoked sausage links , cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 14.5 ounce can pork and beans , do not drain
- 1 14.5 ounce can pinto beans , drained
- 1 can 14.5 ounces kidney beans , drained
- 1 14.5 ounce can great northern beans , drained
- ½ cup onion , diced
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 Tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 tbsp. mustard
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese
Instructions
Crock Pot Directions
- Cook hamburger until done in a skillet, remove, and place in the crockpot.
- Cook the bacon thoroughly in the same pan, then remove and place it with the hamburger in the crockpot. Add the sausage to the crockpot.
- Add the onions to the bacon grease and cook till translucent. Add the onions and any bacon grease to the crockpot and stir.
- Add all the cans of beans into the crock pot.
- In a small bowl mix the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, chili powder, salt, pepper, and mustard together. Pour over the meat mixture.
- Place lid on the crockpot and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or high for 2 to 4 hours.
- Top with grated cheese and serve with your favorite bread or salad.
Baking in the Oven
- Prepare as listed above, but add your ingredients into a dutch oven or 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake 350 degrees for 1 – 1 ½ hours until hot and bubbly. Serve hot.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Really good, I put some additional ingredients that I put in mine. Thanks for the recipe. I lost mine, so now I have yours. I made scratched honey cornbread. Great combination.
OMGosh this was amazing. I had no idea it made so much so I ate a bowl with crackers the first night and over a bed of rice the next time. The rest spent time in freezer bags for future meals. Waiting until I can get all 3 long legged grandsons together at once to make again. And I WILL make again.
Yumm!! Can’t wait to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing.