Description
Get ready to fall in love with this bold and hearty Cowboy Beans recipe! It’s the ultimate comfort food, blending smoky bacon, savory beef, and tender baked beans in a rich, slightly sweet sauce. Perfect for feeding a crowd or enjoying leftovers later, this one-pot wonder works great for backyard BBQs, potlucks, and weeknight dinners. It’s a must-have for your list of easy dinner ideas and classic American comfort dishes. Whether you’re looking for a healthy snack or a satisfying side dish, Cowboy Beans delivers big flavor with minimal fuss.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 medium onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
3 cans (15 ounces each) baked beans
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
1. Cook chopped bacon in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until crispy. Remove and set aside.
2. In the same pan, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease.
3. Add diced onion and green bell pepper. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Return bacon to the pot. Stir in baked beans, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic powder. Mix well.
5. Simmer on low for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
6. For thicker texture, bake uncovered at 350°F for 30 minutes.
Notes
Want to go low and slow? Cowboy Beans taste amazing made in the slow cooker—just simmer for 2–3 hours on low.
Spice it up by adding chopped jalapeños or chipotle peppers in adobo for a smoky kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop or Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 840mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 45mg