Cowboy Beans are a hearty, flavorful dish that’s perfect for any gathering, from summer cookouts to cozy holiday dinners. Loaded with savory ground beef, smoky bacon, and a medley of beans in a tangy-sweet sauce, this recipe elevates classic baked beans to a satisfying meal or side. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing dish that embodies rustic charm and delicious home cooking, look no further – this is your ultimate guide to Cowboy Beans, with a nod to the beloved Pioneer Woman’s style of hearty, family-friendly recipes.
What exactly are Cowboy Beans? Imagine baked beans, but amplified. This dish takes the sweetness of traditional baked beans and adds a robust, savory depth with browned ground beef and crispy bacon. Often called Calico Beans or Hamburger Baked Beans, they are a substantial and flavorful dish that stands alone or complements a variety of main courses. Their versatility and crowd-pleasing nature make them a staple at potlucks, barbecues, and family dinners across America.
While the name evokes images of chuckwagon cooks and campfire meals, the modern Cowboy Beans recipe, including this one, is a delightful update using readily available ingredients like canned beans, ketchup, and mustard. This recipe embraces the spirit of resourceful cooking while ensuring incredible flavor and ease of preparation. You can choose to simmer them in a slow cooker for ultimate convenience or bake them in the oven for a slightly caramelized top – both methods deliver fantastic results.
Close-up shot of cowboy beans in a white bowl with a spoon, showcasing the texture and ingredients.
Why This Cowboy Beans Recipe is a Winner
This recipe isn’t just good; it’s designed to be the best Cowboy Beans you’ve ever tasted. Here’s what sets it apart:
- Flavor Depth: The combination of ground beef and applewood smoked bacon creates a rich, smoky base that infuses every bean.
- Perfectly Balanced Sauce: Apple cider vinegar balances the sweetness of brown sugar and ketchup, creating a tangy-sweet sauce that’s not cloying.
- Variety of Beans: A mix of baked beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, and black beans offers a delightful textural and flavor complexity.
- Easy to Customize: Whether you prefer a sweeter or smokier flavor, this recipe is adaptable to your taste. You can easily adjust the sweetness or add liquid smoke for extra smokiness.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Perfect for busy cooks, Cowboy Beans can be made ahead of time and reheated, making them ideal for potlucks and parties.
- Slow Cooker or Oven Options: Choose your preferred cooking method based on your schedule and desired outcome. Slow cooking yields incredibly tender beans, while oven baking creates a slightly browned top.
Key Ingredients for Cowboy Beans
Let’s break down the essential ingredients that make this Cowboy Beans recipe so delicious:
- Bacon: Applewood smoked bacon is highly recommended for its superior smoky flavor that permeates the entire dish. However, any bacon will work. For extra bacon lovers, feel free to add more than the recipe calls for!
- Ground Beef: 85/15 ground beef provides a good balance of flavor and texture. Lean ground beef can also be used if preferred. The beef adds heartiness and a savory element that transforms these beans into a more substantial dish.
- Onion and Garlic: These aromatics form the flavorful foundation of the recipe. Yellow onion provides sweetness, while garlic adds pungent depth.
- Baked Beans: Canned baked beans form the base of the sauce and contribute to the signature sweetness of Cowboy Beans. Do not drain them as the liquid is part of the sauce.
- Kidney Beans, Cannellini Beans, and Black Beans: This trio of beans adds texture, visual appeal, and nutritional value. Draining these beans prevents the dish from becoming too liquidy. You can also experiment with other beans like pinto beans, navy beans, or butter beans (lima beans).
- Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness and a touch of molasses flavor, complementing the smoky and savory notes.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This is the secret ingredient that balances the sweetness and adds a pleasant tanginess, preventing the beans from being overly sweet.
- Ketchup: Contributes to the classic baked bean flavor and adds sweetness and body to the sauce.
- Yellow Mustard: Adds a subtle tang and complexity to the sauce.
Image of stirring cowboy beans in a cast iron pot on a stovetop, showing the cooking process.
How to Make Cowboy Beans: Step-by-Step
Here’s a detailed guide to making perfect Cowboy Beans, whether you choose the slow cooker or oven method:
Yields: 18 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 lb applewood smoked bacon, sliced
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef (85/15 blend recommended)
- 48 ounces baked beans (3 cans, do not drain)
- 32 ounces kidney beans (2 cans, drained)
- 16 ounces cannellini beans (1 can, drained)
- 32 ounces black beans (2 cans, drained)
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
Equipment:
- Large skillet or Dutch oven
- Slow cooker or large casserole dish (9×13 inch or larger)
Instructions:
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Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Use kitchen scissors to cut bacon directly into the pot for speed. Remove the crispy bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving the bacon drippings in the pan.
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Sauté Aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the bacon drippings and cook for 5-6 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
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Brown the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
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Combine Ingredients: Return the cooked bacon to the skillet with the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Add the baked beans (undrained), kidney beans (drained), cannellini beans (drained), and black beans (drained).
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Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and yellow mustard. Mix everything together until well combined.
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Choose Your Cooking Method:
- Slow Cooker Method: Transfer the bean mixture to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 2 hours, or until heated through and flavors have melded.
- Oven Method: Transfer the bean mixture to a large, covered casserole dish or Dutch oven. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 1 ½ hours, or until bubbly and heated through.
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Serve: Serve hot and enjoy!
Side-by-side images of cowboy beans in a white pot and in a slow cooker, showing versatility in cooking methods.
Tips for Perfect Cowboy Beans
- Crispy Bacon is Key: Don’t skimp on cooking the bacon until truly crispy. This texture contrast is wonderful in the final dish.
- Adjust Sweetness: If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the amount of brown sugar. You can also taste and adjust seasonings at the end of cooking.
- Spice it Up: For a spicier kick, add a pinch of chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the bean mixture.
- Bean Variations: Feel free to experiment with different types of beans. Pinto beans, navy beans, or lima beans (butter beans) are all excellent additions.
- Liquid Smoke (Optional): For an even smokier flavor, add ½ teaspoon of liquid smoke to the bean mixture.
- Make it Vegetarian (Easily): Omit the ground beef and bacon for a vegetarian version. You can add smoked paprika for a smoky flavor or sauté mushrooms for added texture and umami.
Serving Suggestions for Cowboy Beans
Cowboy Beans are incredibly versatile and pair well with a wide variety of dishes:
- Classic BBQ Sides: Serve alongside coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, and grilled corn for a quintessential cookout feast.
- Main Course Companion: Perfect with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, grilled chicken, or pork chops.
- Cornbread Perfection: A side of warm cornbread is the ideal accompaniment to soak up the delicious bean sauce.
- Potluck Star: Cowboy Beans are always a hit at potlucks and gatherings. Serve them directly from the slow cooker to keep them warm.
- Individual Servings: For picnics and cookouts, serve individual portions in paper bowls or cups for easy handling.
Image of cowboy beans served in a paper cup with a spoon, ideal for serving at picnics or cookouts.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Cowboy Beans
Leftover Cowboy Beans are even more flavorful the next day!
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a casserole dish covered with aluminum foil in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat them in the microwave in individual portions.
Enjoy this hearty and flavorful Cowboy Beans recipe at your next gathering! It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that brings the spirit of home-style cooking to your table.
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