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Cowboy beans in a dutch oven on the table.
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5 from 1 vote

Cowboy Baked Beans

Cowboy beans are an easy dish perfect for weeknight dinners or parties. They're a southwestern take on BBQ baked beans loaded with bacon, beef, peppers, and onions, perfect as a main course or side dish.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cowboy Baked Beans, Cowboy Beans
Servings: 8
Calories: 353kcal
Author: Ryan Allen

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ½ pound bacon cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper diced
  • 2 (16 ounce) cans of pork and beans
  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can kidney beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can pinto beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup barbecue sauce
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1½ tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉.
  • Cook the bacon until crispy in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Remove and drain the grease.
  • Add the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper to the large pot or Dutch. Cook until the ground beef is browned and the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
  • Add all beans, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and all spices to the pot. Mix until well combined.
  • Cover and cook for 45-50 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
  • Serve while hot, and enjoy!

Notes

  • Drain the Beans. I suggest draining the kidney and pinto beans very well as the starchy liquid in the beans makes the sauce too thick. Make sure to keep the liquid with the pork and beans as these are flavored!
  • Don't Overcook the Beef. Cook it until browned and no further. Ground beef cooks relatively quickly, and overcooking it makes it rubbery and reduces its flavor.
  • Don't Burn the Bacon. I prefer using medium heat for cooking bacon. It's the sweet spot that allows it to get crispy without burning, so don't try to rush it.
  • Adjust the Flavors. You can easily adjust the sweetness, smokiness, and spiciness of the dish by using more or less brown sugar and by the BBQ sauce you choose.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 629mg | Potassium: 420mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 814IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg