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5 from 8 votes

Cowboy Beans

These hearty cowboy beans are packed with bacon, beef, and pork in a rich, sweet, and smoky sauce. The ultimate one-pot BBQ side dish!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, entree, lunch, Main Course, main dish, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Barbeque
Keyword: baked beans recipe, barbeque baked beans, barbeque baked beans recipe, cowboy baked beans, cowboy baked beans recipe, cowboy beans, cowboy beans recipe, crockpot cowboy beans, easy cowboy beans, slowcooker cowboy beans, stovetop cowboy beans
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Alyssa Rivers

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add ½ pound chopped bacon to a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottom pot and cook over medium heat until crisp, about 7 minutes. Remove the bacon from the pot with a slotted spoon.
  • Leave a couple of tablespoons of bacon grease in the bottom of the pot and discard the rest. Add 1 cup diced yellow onion and cook until almost tender, about 4 minutes.
  • Add 3 teaspoons minced garlic and 1 pound lean ground beef and cook and crumble until the beef is no longer pink, about 7-10 minutes. Drain the excess grease.
  • Add the cooked bacon, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 3 (15-ounce) cans pork and beans, 1 (15-ounce) drained can cannellini beans, 1 (15-ounce) drained can dark kidney beans, 1 cup barbecue sauce, ½ cup ketchup, ¼ cup brown sugar , 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar to the pot and stir until incorporated.
  • Transfer the pot to the oven and bake uncovered for 45 minutes.

Video

Notes

Updated May 29, 2025
Slow Cooker: Follow steps 1-3 as directed on the stovetop, then on step 4 add everything to a 4-7 quart slow cooker, cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours, or on HIGH for 2-3 hours.
Stovetop: Instead of placing the pot in the oven to bake, cover the pot and simmer it over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring it well every 10 minutes or so to avoid burning the bottom.
Make-Ahead and Leftover Instructions: You can make these cowboy beans 1–2 days ahead to deepen the flavor, then store in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for 3–4 months. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low for 10–15 minutes, adding a splash of water if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 591kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 1884mg | Potassium: 1172mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 470IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 173mg | Iron: 8mg

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