There’s nothing quite like the savory taste of cowboy beans, especially when made with a hint of smoky flavor and the perfect combination of simple ingredients.
If you’re looking for the ultimate delicious side dish, this cowboy baked beans recipe is a must-try.
Three Reasons You’ll Love Cowboy Beans ♡
Crisp Bacon Goodness: One of the standout ingredients in cowboy beans is the crispy bacon. Its rich texture and smoky taste partner perfectly with the beans, adding a crunch to every bite.
Hearty Meat Mixture: Beyond just beans, this popular dish boasts a meat mixture that complements the beans. The beans are hardy enough to be a weeknight dinner meal on their own, but they also have so much additional flavor that’s simply irresistible.
Best Side Dish Recipe for BBQs: If you plan a backyard barbecue, look no further than these fantastic beans.
Cowboy beans, often referred to as one of the best side dish recipes, perfectly balance weeknight meals by capturing that homemade, old-fashioned dinner feeling.
What Exactly Are Cowboy Beans?
These aren’t just your average baked beans recipe. Cowboy beans, sometimes called cowboy baked beans, are a hearty mix of beans, ground beef, and flavorful seasonings.
Originating from rustic cowboy dinners, this dish is perfect for any gathering or family dinner.
Ingredients:
- ground beef
- veggies: small white onion (sweet onion is fine too) and green bell pepper
- seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, dry BBQ rub
- baked beans
- barbecue sauce
- honey mustard
- brown sugar
- bacon cooked crispy and crumbled
How to Make Cowboy Beans
- Combine ground beef, onion, and green pepper in a large skillet. Cook over medium heat until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender. Use a slotted spoon to remove excess fat if needed.
- Mix in garlic powder, onion powder, and your choice of dry BBQ rub (we recommend Weber Cowboy Seasoning).
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a 9×13 casserole baking dish, pour two cans of beans. Introduce the beef mixture, and then stir in the BBQ sauce, honey mustard, and brown sugar until thoroughly combined.
- Toss in cooked bacon pieces and ensure the mixture is evenly spread in the dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Serve piping hot.
Best Beans for Baked Beans
What Type of Beans Are Baked Beans? Baked beans are generally made from navy beans or haricot beans.
Our Recommended Beans for This Dish For this recipe, we’re focusing on using canned beans for convenience.
Our Take on Cowboy Beans
Both our camping buddies and our family gave it a thumbs up.
The best part?
They’re ideal for a large gathering and warm up perfectly on the stovetop. Although a microwave would do just fine, the stovetop method is our go-to for reheating.
Tips, Tricks, and Seasoning Secrets
The Secret Ingredient: Weber Cowboy Seasoning For an authentic smoky flavor, we used Weber Cowboy Seasoning as our BBQ rub. It has tons of flavor. You can grab it at Walmart.
Storing Leftover Cowboy Beans
Store any leftover bean mixture in an airtight container. They remain fresh and tasty, ready to be reheated and enjoyed again.
What to Serve with Cowboy Beans
Enhancing the Main Course These cowboy beans, with their rich and smoky flavor, pair wonderfully with grilled meats, green beans, cornbread, potato salad, or even a fresh salad.
They’re the perfect side dish for a BBQ party or a homestyle family dinner.
Spice It Up For those who like an extra kick, a dash of hot sauce and a little ground black pepper on the cowboy beans can kick up the tangy flavor.
Top It Off: Fun Ways to Add Extra Flavor to Your Beans
Want to make your cowboy baked beans even better? Try adding some toppings!
- Cheddar cheese is great because it melts on hot beans.
- Fresh herbs like cilantro or green onions give a fresh taste.
- For something creamy, a spoonful of sour cream is perfect.
- And if you like a little crunch, crispy onions or breadcrumbs can do the trick.
Love Beans? Try These Delicious Dishes!
If you’re a bean enthusiast looking for some savory dishes to satisfy your cravings, we’ve got you covered. Slow Cooker Refried Beans make for an awesome homemade side dish in a crockpot.
Dive into the comforting bowl of Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup on a chilly day. Add a twist to your dinner with Cheesy Beef Tortilla Casserole, boasting a Mexican blend of beef and beans.
And for a southern touch, don’t miss out on the rich and wholesome Slow Cooker Black Eyed Peas.
Cowboy Baked Beans (with Beef)
Equipment
- 9×13 casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small white onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tbsp. Dry BBQ Rub suggested: Weber Cowboy Seasoning
- 56 oz. Original flavored baked beans typically 2 large cans
- 1 cup BBQ Sauce
- ¼ cup honey mustard
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 lb. bacon cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- In a large skillet, combine the ground beef, onion, and green pepper. Cook over medium heat until the beef is browned and the vegetables are tender.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and mix in the garlic powder, onion powder, and dry BBQ rub.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Empty the contents of 2 cans of baked beans into a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Incorporate the beef and vegetable mixture into the beans.
- Blend in the barbecue sauce, honey mustard, and brown sugar until everything is well-combined.
- Mix in the bacon pieces, ensuring they're distributed evenly.
- Using a spatula, spread the mixture uniformly in the baking pan.
- Bake cowboy beans in the preheated oven for 60 minutes.
- Once cooked, remove beans from the oven and serve while still warm.
Notes
Suggested toppings
- Crispy Bacon or Pancetta: Extra crumbled crispy bacon bits
- Shredded Cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or smoked gouda can be sprinkled on top.
- Chopped Fresh Herbs: Fresh parsley, cilantro, or chives for fresh flavor and color.
How to store cowboy beans
- Cooling: Before storing, let the baked beans come to room temperature. This should take about 20-30 minutes. Keeping them from sitting out for too long (no more than 2 hours) is essential to prevent bacterial growth.
- Container: Transfer the baked beans into airtight containers. Glass containers are ideal because they don’t absorb any flavors. If you’re using plastic containers, ensure they’re food-safe and can handle temperature changes if you plan to reheat in the same container.
- Refrigeration: Store the airtight containers in the refrigerator if you plan to eat them within 3-4 days.
- Reheat them in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. If they’ve thickened too much, you can add a little water or broth to adjust the consistency.
Nutritional information is an automated estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator or app.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
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