COWBOY BAKED BEANS

292cd374

Cowboy Baked Beans are a robust twist on traditional baked beans, packed with ground beef, smoky bacon, brown sugar, tangy BBQ sauce, and a mix of beans for flavor and texture. They’re savory, slightly sweet, and have just the right kick. Serve as a side dish or a main course with cornbread or a toasted bun.

⏱️ Prep Time

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour (or longer for deeper flavor)
Total Time: 1 hour – 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6–8

🔧 Equipment Needed

Large skillet
Large baking dish or Dutch oven
Wooden spoon
Can opener
Oven (or slow cooker, optional)

🛒 Ingredients

1 lb (450g) ground beef
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 small onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 oz) can baked beans (like Bush’s)
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz) can pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
¾ cup BBQ sauce
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chili powder
Salt & black pepper, to taste
Optional: ½ tsp smoked paprika or hot sauce

📌 Ingredient Notes

Beans: Use a variety for flavor and texture; feel free to sub in white beans, navy beans, or chili beans.
BBQ Sauce: Choose a bold or smoky variety — or spicy if you want extra kick.
Meat: You can sub sausage or ground turkey for the beef. Some versions even use chopped brisket!

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the Bacon

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook chopped bacon until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Leave about 1 tbsp bacon fat in the pan.

2. Brown the Beef

Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.

3. Sauté Veggies

Add onion, bell pepper (if using), and garlic to the beef. Cook for 3–4 minutes until soft and fragrant.

4. Mix Everything Together

In a large bowl (or directly in your baking dish/Dutch oven), combine:

Cooked beef and bacon
Baked beans
Kidney and pinto beans
BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire
Chili powder, smoked paprika (optional), salt, pepper

Mix well to combine.

5. Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Transfer mixture to a baking dish or Dutch oven. Bake uncovered for 45–60 minutes, until thickened and bubbling. Stir once or twice during baking.

🔥 Optional: Broil the top for 2–3 minutes at the end to caramelize the surface.

🔢 Nutrition Facts (Approximate per serving)

Calories: ~450
Protein: 22g
Carbs: 40g
Fat: 22g
Fiber: 8g
Sodium: 850mg

(Nutrition varies depending on ingredients used and serving size.)

💡 Tips & Variations

✅ Tips

Make ahead: Cowboy beans taste even better the next day. Reheat gently on the stove or in the oven.
Adjust sweetness: Add more or less brown sugar depending on your BBQ sauce and taste.
Thicker beans? Bake longer or add 1 tbsp cornstarch slurry.

🔄 Variations

Spicy version: Add jalapeños, hot sauce, or use spicy BBQ sauce.
Dutch oven on the grill: Cook over indirect heat for outdoor flavor.
Slow Cooker Method: Combine everything and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 2–3.
Meat Lovers: Add chopped sausage, brisket, or pulled pork.